Separation of Polychlorinated biphenyls by Fast Gas Chromatography†

Abstract

The separation of commercially available polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by fast gas chromatography (fast GC) has been studied. Aroclor 1254 was separated by using two column types: DB-1 and SPB-608. The fast GC used a split–splitless injector to introduce the sample, followed by a cold trap at –90 °C to focus the sample. Rapid heating was used to introduce the sample into the short chromatographic column to decrease band broadening. Hydrogen was the carrier gas at velocities of 100 to 125 cm s^–1. Analyses were performed by using an electron capture detector (ECD). Separation was achieved with both columns in less than 6 min. With the greatly shortened run times, reproducibility can be tested quickly and consequently with low cost.