Bioaccumulation and toxic effects of elevated levels of 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachloroazobenzene (33′44′-TCAB) towards aquatic organisms. I: A simple method for the rapid extraction, detection and determination of 33′44′-TCAB in multiple biological samples

The polychlorinated aromatic compound 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachloroazobenzene (33′44′-TCAB) is a contaminant of 3,4-dichloroaniline based herbicides, but there have been no reports of methods for the quantitative determination of 33′44′-TCAB in biological organisms. In this communication we address this knowledge gap by presenting a method for the rapid extraction, detection and determination of 33′44′-TCAB in multiple biological samples based on the alkaline decomposition of the sample followed by alumina cartridge column chromatography and GC-HRMS analysis.