Fast analysis of decabrominated diphenyl ether using low-pressure gas chromatography-electron-capture negative ionization mass spectrometry.
This paper reports the applicability of low-pressure gas chromatography-mass spectrometry operated in electron-capture negative ionization mode (LP-GC-ECNI-MS) for the analysis of decabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-209). Particular attention was paid to find optimal injector and oven conditions for minimal thermal degradation of BDE-209. The analytical characteristics were compared for LP-GC columns (10 m x 0.53 mm) with different film thicknesses (d(f) 0.15 microm versus 0.25microm) and for a conventional GC column (15 m x 0.25 mm, 0.10 microm d(f)). Short residence times (6.5 and 9.8 min) of BDE-209 were found for the LP-GC systems with 0.15 and 0.25microm d(f), respectively, resulting in a low elution temperature and minimal degradation. Additionally, baseline separation of 22 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners (major components of PBDE technical mixtures) was possible in less than 12 min using the LP-GC-ECNI-MS system with 0.15microm d(f). The optimized method was applied for the determination of PBDEs in Belgian indoor dust samples. The obtained concentrations of BDE-209 (range 8-292 ng/g dry weight) were in the same range or lower than concentrations in dust from other European countries.
Toxicological Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
Alin C
AC
Dirtu
Khaiwal
K
Ravindra
Laurence
L
Roosens
René
R
van Grieken
Hugo
H
Neels
Ronny
R
Blust
Adrian
A
Covaci
D001530:Belgium; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D011312:Pressure; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
D004391:Dust; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; C010902:decabromobiphenyl ether