Efficient total analyses for bromine type flame retardants by simple NICI-GC/MS

Abstract

We studied an efficient analytical method for detecting brominated aromatic compounds using negative ion chemical ionization (NICI), with well-known quadruple gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC/MS). We utilized 79 and 35 m/z as monitoring ions of brominated compounds and syringe-spiked PCB#209, thus highly selective and sensitive detection was achieved. With 7.0 m long HP-5 GC column, decabromo-diphenyl ether (DBDE), hexabromobenzene, α-hexabromo cyclododecane (α-HBCD), and tetrabromo bisphenol A were utilized as bromine type flame retardants that are generally consumed in industrial commodities. A shorter column provided more efficient results without degradation of DBDE on GC which are usually observed with longer column (30 m). Also, pseudo environmental water samples can be analyzed without authentic pretreatment procedures. Furthermore, we demonstrated analyses for members regulated by the Restriction of Hazardous Substances. Consequently, the newly developed simple NICI-GC/MS method was effectively worked for screening of flame retardants in a short period of time.