title: Chloride-enhanced atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry of polychlorinated n-alkanes.
abstract: The use of high-performance liquid chromatography combined with chloride-enhanced atmospheric pressure chemical ionization for the determination of polychlorinated n-alkanes (PCAs, also called chlorinated paraffins or CPs) is described as an alternative to gas chromatographic methods. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization in the negative ion mode formed exclusively [M+Cl](-) adduct ions and suppressed fragmentation when a chlorinated solvent was added. Limits of detection were 1-2 ng/microL for technical PCA mixtures. Response factors for single short-chain PCA homologues with different degrees of chlorination varied by not more than a factor of 6.5. The developed method was applied for the determination of the composition of technical PCA mixtures as well as for the analysis of PCAs in household commodities. Medium-chain PCAs were found in paint samples at concentrations of 8.2-11.5% (w/w), compared with 7.4-11.5% obtained by gas chromatography combined with electron ionization tandem mass spectrometry.
authors.affiliation: Organic Analytical Chemistry, University of Basel, Neuhausstr. 31, CH-4057 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Zdenek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zencak
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oehme
mesh_terms: D000473:Alkanes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D002712:Chlorides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000473:Alkanes; D002712:Chlorides; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated