Detection of Halogenated Compounds by Capillary Gas Chromatography with Helium Plasma Mass Spectrometry Detection

A gas chromatograph was coupled to a helium microwave-induced plasma mass spectrometer for the detection of halogenated hydrocarbons. The absolute detection limits for the chlorinated compounds investigated ranged from 9.2 to 21 picograms, while the detection limits for brominated and iodinated compounds ranged from 0.92 to 1.05 picograms. The linear dynamic ranges were found to be 2.5-3 orders of magnitude. The results obtained are compared with optical emission from this and other laboratories.