The separation of commercially available polychlorinated biphenyls (PC
Bs) by fast gas chromatography (fast GC) has been studied. Aroclor 125
4 was separated by using two column types: DB-1 and SPB-608. The fast
GC used a split-splitless injector to introduce the sample, followed b
y a cold trap at -90 degrees C to focus the sample. Rapid heating was
used to introduce the sample into the short chromatographic column to
decrease band broadening. Hydrogen was the carrier gas at velocities o
f 100 to 125 cm s(-1). Analyses were performed by using an electron ca
pture detector (ECD). Separation was achieved with both columns in les
s than 6 min, With the greatly shortened run times, reproducibility ca
n be tested quickly and consequently with low cost.