PCB congener analysis with Hall electrolytic conductivity detection

Thesis/Dissertation · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5605893

Edstrom, R D

This work reports the development of an analytical methodology for the analysis of PCB congeners based on integrating relative retention data provided by other researchers. The retention data were transposed into a multiple retention marker system which provided good precision in the calculation of relative retention indices for PCB congener analysis. Analytical run times for the developed methodology were approximately one hour using a commercially available GC capillary column. A Tracor Model 700A Hall Electrolytic Conductivity Detector (HECD) was employed in the GC detection of Aroclor standards and environmental samples. Responses by the HECD provided good sensitivity and were reasonably predictable. Ten response factors were calculated based on the molar chlorine content of each homolog group. Homolog distributions were determined for Aroclors 1016, 1221, 1232, 1242, 1248, 1254, 1260, 1262 along with binary and ternary mixtures of the same. These distributions were compared with distributions reported by other researchers using electron capture detection as well as chemical ionization mass spectrometric methodologies. Homolog distributions acquired by the HECD methodology showed good correlation with the previously mentioned methodologies. The developed analytical methodology was used in the analysis of bluefish (Pomatomas saltatrix) and weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) collected from the York River, lower James River and lower Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. Total PCB concentrations were calculated and homolog distributions were constructed from the acquired data. Increases in total PCB concentrations were found in the analyzed fish samples during the fall of 1985 collected from the lower James River and lower Chesapeake Bay.

• Research Organization: California Research Corp., La Habra, CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5605893
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
FEDERAL REGION III
FISHES
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLLUTION
RIVERS
SENSITIVITY
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VERTEBRATES
VIRGINIA
WATER POLLUTION