Elsevier

Journal of Chromatography A

Volume 247, Issue 2, 1 October 1982, Pages 263-272
Journal of Chromatography A

Gas chromatographic analysis of halocarbons in drinking water by headspace extraction and mixed column separation

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(00)85949-XGet rights and content

Abstract

Series arrangement of polar and non-polar liquid stationary phases (30 cm of 10% SP-1000 on 80–1000-mesh Chromosorb W DMCS, followed by 350 cm of 10% OV-1 on the same support) were used for the complete resolution of the trihalomethanes CHL3, CHBrCl2, CHBr2Cl and CHBr3, formed in drinking water facilities by the action of the chlorine used as a disinfectant. Other halocarbons (CCl2 = CH2, CH2Cl2, CHCl2CH3, CCl3CH3, CCl4, CHCl = CCl2, CCl2 = CCl2) not formed during chlorination but coming from polluted water sources, which interfere in the analysis of trihalomethanes due to peak overlap, can be separated with the same column arrangement, and are eluted in the order listed. Homogeneously mixed columns with similar polar-non-polar liquid phase ratios were also tested but showed lower resolving powers and required a more complex preparation method.

A headspace extraction technique and a 63Ni electron-capture detector were used for quantitation. With proper temperature programming of the column, gas chromatographic analysis could be completed within 30 min, making this technique suitable for the rapid screening of large numbers of samples coming different water supplies in order to monitor the quality of community drinking water. Lack of interferences between the halocarbon peaks and those of commonly used liquid-liquid extraction solvents (n-pentane, n-hexane, isooctane) makes the proposed column also suitable for liquid exchange based trihalomethane extraction techniques.

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