CHLORINATED ACETIC AND PROPIONIC ACIDS IN PINE NEEDLES FROM INDUSTRIAL-AREAS

Concentrations of chlorinated acetic and propionic acids in pine needl es from the surroundings of a pulp and paper mill and a metal reclamat ion plant were measured. Different ways of extraction and chromatograp hic separation were tried. Ultrasonic extraction with water of the pow dered needles was found to be efficient. The acids were analysed as th eir pentafluorobenzyl esters with GC-ECD. The ECD sensitivity of the p entafluorobenzyl derivatives was good. The detection limit was below 1 ng/g for the chlorinated acetic and propionic acids. The concentratio ns of dichloroacetic acid and 2,2-dichloropropionic acid in fresh need les were on the 0-4 ng/g level. Monochloroacetic acid, 2-chloropropion ic acid and a,2,3-dichloropropionic acid were not detected. Trichloroa cetic acid could not be analyzed by this method. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd. All rights reserved.