Comprehensive multidimensional gas chromatography coupled to low resolution quadrupole mass spectrometry for the analysis of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs

Because of the high persistency and extreme toxicity of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and so-called dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), their trace level determination is a topic of much interest [1]. The typical concentrations of this compounds, sub-ng/kg, makes that they have to be clearly separated from other, less toxic, congeners present in the samples and from the matrix and the use of sensitive techniques is required for the quantification. The analyses of the compounds are usually done by high resolution gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC-HRMS). Recently, alternative novel techniques have been developed which are improving the chromatographic separation, e.g. comprehensive multidimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC), for the analysis of the compounds [2]. The aim of this work is to evaluate GC×GC coupled to a low resolution quadrupole mass spectrometer for the quantification of PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin like PCBs.