Solid phase extraction/programmed temperature vaporizer (PTV) injection in GC-analysis of toxaphene and PCBs in aqueous samples

A high-resolution gas-chromatographic (HRGC) method with electron capture detection is described for the sensitive determination of PCBs and toxaphene in water in the lower ng/l range. The required low detection limits are guaranteed by isolation of the target compounds and concentration from the filtered water sample by solid phase extraction with specific C18 silica gel (200–250 μm) alone or combined with the injection of larger extract volumes into a programmed temperature vaporizer (PTV) operating in the solvent venting mode. The bonded silica gel was prepared by reaction of the surface silanol groups with octadecyltrichlorosilane. A C18 silica of reproducible coverage was received. Practical aspects of the use of the solid phase extraction in combination with the PTV injection technique are discussed. The recoveries for toxaphene and PCBs were 85 and 78%.