SIZE-EXCLUSION CHROMATOGRAPHY ON ZEOLITES IN THE TRACE ANALYSIS OF POLYAROMATIC HYDROCARBONS AND ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES

In analysis of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pes ticides (OCPs) difficulties can arise with interference from naturally occurring compounds which behave chromatographically similarly to the target analytes. In this paper we report that much of this material ( approximately 98%) can be removed simply and rapidly by passing the is olate through a short column of powdered zeolite ZSM-5. No losses of P AHs or OCPs were discernible in this procedure, which provides substan tial improvements in terms of analytical performance.