ELUTION ORDER OF THE 209 POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS ON A HIGH-TEMPERATURE CAPILLARY COLUMN

Retention times of the 209 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were deter mined by gas chromatography in combination with electron ionization ma ss spectrometry on a newly developed stationary phase which was suitab le to 380 degrees C. The so-called Thermocap A phase consisted of 50% methyl-50% phenyl polysiloxane which was prepared by using an in situ process. On Thermocap A, the sum of the McReynolds constants was five times lower than on conventional equimolar methyl-phenyl phases distri buted with the tradenames CP-Sil 24 or DB-17. The Thermocap A column s howed some unique elution orders of PCB congeners. For example, PCB 13 3 eluted in front of PCB 136 which was not reported on any other stati onary phase before. Most of the PCB congeners which are part of nation al regulations in Europe eluted without interference from the Thermoca p A phase. The changed elution order and the high-temperature stabilit y recommends the use of the Thermocap A phase for PCB analyses alone o r as a confirmatory column. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.