Interference from 2,3,5,6-3′,4′-Hexachlorobiphenyl (CB 163) in the Determination of 2,3,4-2′,4′,5′-Hexachlorobiphenyl (CB 138) in Environmental and Technical Samples

Abstract

Abstract In Intern. J. Enuiron. Anal. Chem. 66 (1989), 155-161, Roos et al.1 reported on problems encountered in the determination of 2,3,4-2′,4′,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB 138) in environmental samples. These authors indicated that an interference was present for the capillary column gas chromatographic (HRGC) determination of CB 138. This interference was tentatively identified (without standard) as 2,3,5,6-3′,4′-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB 163). We have synthesized CB 163 and can confirm that it co-elutes with CB-138 on the widely used HRGC phase for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) analysis, 5%, phenyl, 95% methylpolysiloxane (CP-SIL8-CB) even on a 50m column. However, we managed to separate CB 163 from CB 138 on the very polar phase, bis-cyanopropylphenyl polysiloxane (SP-2330), using a 30 m column. We have quantified CB 163 and CB 138 in various environmental and technical samples and have found CB 163 to CB 138 ratios from I: 10 up to 3: 10.