Gas chromatographic separation of semivolatile organohalogen compounds on the new stationary phase Optima delta-3

The separation characteristics of the recently developed GC stationary phas e on a methyl-phenyl-polysiloxane basis (Optima delta-3) for the analysis o f semivolatile organohalogen compounds are presented in this study. The sta tionary phase is characterised in its basic polarity by a sum of the Rohrsc hneider-McReynolds constants relative to squalane of 574 units. A complete determination of the elution order of all polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is given in the form of temperature-programmed relative retention times, RR T=PCBi/(PCB52+PCB180). A mixture of Aroclors 1242, 1254 and 1260 which cont ains 154 PCB congeners gives rise to 108 peaks on the Optima delta-3 when u sing electron-capture detection. The gas chromatographic separation of chlo rinated pesticides like hexachlorocydohexanes, DDTs and cyclodiene insectic ides, and other organohalogen compounds like polychlorinated terphenyls, po lychlorinated alkanes, polychlorinated bornanes (toxaphenes), and polybromi nated diphenyl ethers is also discussed. A real-world biological sample (Co d Liver Oil, NIST SRM 1588) is used to demonstrate the applicability of the Optima delta-3 for the analysis of semivolatile organohalogen compounds in environmental samples. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.