title: In-line catalytic derivatization method for selective detection of chlorinated aromatics with a hyphenated gas chromatography/laser mass spectrometry technique:  a concept for comprehensive detection of isomeric ensembles.
abstract: The combination of gas chromatography (GC) and laser-based resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (REMPI-TOFMS) represents a three-dimensional analytical method, using the gas chromatographic retention time, the wavelength of the ionization laser for REMPI, and the molecular mass as analytical parameters. In this work, a novel analytical scheme for detection of chlorinated aromatic compounds, including isomeric ensembles, by GC/REMPI-TOFMS is presented. The concept uses an in-line hydrodechlorination catalyst for post- or precolumn derivatization of chlorinated aromatic compounds. The chlorinated aromatics are quantitatively reduced, forming their respective aromatic skeletons. These aromatic skeletons are detected selectively by REMPI-TOFMS. The first results for substance class selective detection of chlorinated benzene isomers are given, and potential applications in the field of the analysis of compounds such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Ökologische Chemie, GSF-Forschungszentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit, D-85764 Oberschleissheim, (Neuherberg), Germany, Lehrstuhl für Ökologische Chemie und Umweltanalytik, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Freising, Germany, and Department of Chemistry, University of Pretoria, ZA-0002 Pretoria, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Rohwer
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Heger