Anal. Chem. 1995, 67, 2548-2555
Identification of PCB Congeners by Gas-Chromatography Electron-Capture Detection Employing a Quantitative Structure-Retention Model
Yuriy V. Gankin, Alexander Gorshteyn, and Albert Robbat, Jr.*
Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, 62 Talbot Avenue, Medford, Massachusetts 02155
Abstract
Quantitative structure-retention relationships based on high-resolution capillary dual column separation and employing dissimilar stationary phases have been developed for congener-specific identification of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in complex environmental samples. Application of the prediction model, validated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, correctly assigned PCB congeners to 95% of a harbor sediment chromatographic profile. The standard Aroclor method of analysis resulted in 20% underestimation of total PCB concentration in the sediment sample compared to the congener-specific detection method.