APPLICATION OF TANDEM MASS-SPECTROMETRY TO THE ANALYSIS OF CHLORINATED COMPOUNDS

The application of high-resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometr y and tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) in environmental analysis is de monstrated with three typical compound types, i.e., polychlorinated bi phenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated alkanes (PCAs) and polychlorinated nap hthatenes (PCNs), found in/or during the preparation of some environme ntal samples from a contaminated area. With 'multiple reaction monitor ing' of some selected reaction products from a collision cell (i.e., l oss of one or two chlorine radicals from a molecular ion) by the Qanal yser of a VG-AutospecQ mass spectrometer, unambiguous qualitative and quantitative data for various isomeric PCBs and PCNs could be obtained . By-using this approach, time consuming and extremely demanding sampl e preparation could be reduced or avoided. In addition, the determinat ion of trace amounts of higher chlorinated PCBs in paraffin oil illust rates the unique capability of MS-MS.