Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography of polybrominated diphenyl ethers

P. Korytar, A. Covaci, P.E.G. Leonards, J. de Boer, U.A.Th. Brinkman

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    54 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with micro electron-capture detection (GC × GC¿¿ECD) was evaluated for the separation of 125 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). From among the six column combinations that were evaluated, DB-1 × 007-65HT was found to be the most suitable because of: (i) the highest number of BDE congeners separated; (ii) the least decomposition of higher brominated congeners; and (iii) the most suitable maximum operating temperature. The separation of the 125 BDE congeners from five hydroxy- and two methoxy-BDEs and nine other brominated flame retardants (polybrominated biphenyls, tetrabromobisphenol-A, methyl-tetrabromobisphenol-A and hexabromocyclododecane) was also studied. Fluorinated BDEs were found to be valuable internal standards for the determination of BDEs because of their very similar physico-chemical properties and excellent separation from the parent BDEs, mainly in the second dimension. GC × GC¿time-of-flight MS and GC × GC¿¿ECD were shown to be useful tools to identify decomposition products of nona- and deca-substituted BDEs, which are formed during the GC run. Three nona-BDEs were shown to be the major decomposition products of BDE 209
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)200-207
    JournalJournal of Chromatography. A, Including electrophoresis and other separation methods
    Volume1100
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2005

    Keywords

    • decabromodiphenyl ether
    • debromination

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