title: Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time of flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS) for environmental forensic investigations in developing countries.
abstract: The disposal and dumping of toxic waste is a matter of growing concern in developing countries, including South Africa. Frequently these countries do not possess access to gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) for the determination of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). This publication describes an alternative approach to the investigation of toxic waste using comprehensive gas chromatography coupled to time of flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS). The technology permits both comprehensive screening of toxic samples for numerous classes of organic pollutants and also quantitative analysis for the individual compounds. This paper describes the use of this technique by analysing samples obtained from a hazardous waste treatment facility in South Africa. After sampling and extraction the samples were analysed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and four dioxin-like non-ortho substituted polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The quantitative values, as well as detection limits, obtained using the GC×GC-TOFMS methodology compares well with those obtained using GC-HRMS; the accepted benchmark technology for this analysis. Although GC×GC-TOFMS is not a target compound analytical technique (as is GC-HRMS), it is possible to obtain information on numerous other classes of organic pollutants present in the samples in one analytical run. This is not possible with GC-HRMS. Several different column combinations have been investigated for handling very complex waste samples and suggestions are presented for the most suitable combination.
authors.affiliation: Organic and Bio-Analysis Group, Metrology in Chemistry Area, National Metrology Institute of South Africa, Private Bag X34, Lynnwood Ridge 0040, South Africa. bjdevos@nmisa.org
authors.forename: Jayne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Vos
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vermeulen
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gorst-Allman
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cochran
authors.forename: Egmont
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rohwer
authors.forename: Jean-Francois
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Focant
mesh_terms: D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D003906:Developing Countries; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006256:Hazardous Waste / Q000032:analysis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls