IDENTIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUENTS OF A COMPLEX MIXTURE BY COMBINED USE OF RETENTION INDEXES AND SPECIFIC MULTIDETECTION RESPONSES

The ratio of the responses of two different specific detectors to a si ngle compound has, when used in conjunction with the compound's retent ion index, been investigated as an identification criterion for the co mpound. The ECD:NPD and ECD:FPD response ratios have been used for the identification of some pesticides. Analyses were performed with a sin gle column - dual parallel detection - personal computer system. The r eliability of the detector response ratio (DRR) was demonstrated by th e consistency of detector response with time, and the influence of the quantity of analyte and of the chromatographic operating conditions. These factors were selected in the expectation that the technique coul d be used for routine trace analysis.