PARC an automated apparatus for clean-up procedures used in routine-analysis for PCDD/PCDF and related compounds

Abstract PARC (Processor for Automatic Routine Clean-up) is a concept to automate and control complex liquid chromatographic assemblies. Pivotal is a control software, which assists a particular control programming language, an user definable screen and a programmable dialogue with the operator of an application. The language has been constructed to obtain an easy programmable time controller and to create applications in routine analysis, which can be handled easily. The software allows a process visualisation and can be utilized in all sections of liquid chromatography (HPLC, MPLC and preparative LC) and is a tool for development of chromatographic methods, further for teaching and for demonstration purposes. The controller is utilized for clean-up procedures of polychlorinated dioxins and furans (PCDD/PCDFs) and chlorobenzenes from extracts of waste incinerator fly ash and other matrices. Clean-up procedures according to VDI-guidelines were chosen. The automated alumina column clean-up and the modular combination of H 2 SO 4 -silica and alumina column clean-up proved to be highly reproducible with recoveries mainly higher than 90%.