Shape selectivity: A key factor in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatographic analysis of toxic PCBs

  1. Peter Haglund1,*,
  2. Mikael Harju1,
  3. Ruby Ong2,
  4. Philip Marriott2

Article first published online: 26 NOV 2001

DOI: 10.1002/mcs.10011

Issue

Journal of Microcolumn Separations

Journal of Microcolumn Separations

Volume 13, Issue 7, pages 306–311, 2001

Additional Information

How to Cite

Haglund, P., Harju, M., Ong, R. and Marriott, P. (2001), Shape selectivity: A key factor in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatographic analysis of toxic PCBs. J. Micro. Sep., 13: 306–311. doi: 10.1002/mcs.10011

Author Information

  1. 1

    Environmental Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-90187 Umeå, Sweden

  2. 2

    Applied Chemistry, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne 3001, Australia

*Environmental Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-90187 Umeå, Sweden

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 26 NOV 2001
  2. Article first published online: 26 NOV 2001
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 5 SEP 2001
  4. Manuscript Revised: 21 AUG 2001
  5. Manuscript Received: 20 MAY 2001

Funded by

  • MISTRA (Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research)

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Keywords:

  • comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography;
  • fast analysis;
  • peak compression;
  • shape selectivity;
  • toxic PCBs

Abstract

A number of toxic planar PCBs, that is, PCB 77, 105, 118, 126, 156, and 169, were successfully separated from other PCB congeners present in technical PCB formulations using comprehensive GC×GC. The planar PCBs were selectively retained using a liquid crystal column, which was used as the first-dimension column. A short and narrow bore (0.25 m×0.1 mm) nonpolar 5%-phenyl-methylpoly-siloxane column was used as the second-dimension column. A longitudinally modulating cryogenic system (LMCS) was used to modulate the first-dimension signal. Since the planar PCBs elute from the first column at relatively high oven temperatures they were rapidly eluted from the second column. Altogether, this resulted in a significant peak sharpening, and a 20-fold increase in the signal-to-noise ratio, as compared to standard one-dimensional GC. This column set also seems to separate seven frequently measured congeners, that is, PCBs 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, and 180, from other major PCB congeners. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Micro Sep 13: 306–311, 2001

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