Capillary gas chromatography combined with atomic emission detection for the analysis of DDT and metabolites

Capillary gas chromatography with atomic emission detection (GC-AED) was evaluated for the determination of DDT and metabolites in biological samples. Utilizing chlorine-selective detection at 479 nm, DDT, DDE, and DDD were quantified down to the 20 ng/g (fat weight) level (S/N = 10) in cod liver oil, while the detection limit was 6 ng/g (S/N = 3). With splitless injection performed in the pressure programmed mode, DDT and related compounds were quantified based on a single chlorine calibration curve (universal calibration). The quantitative data obtained by GC-AED were in excellent accordance with similar results from capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD), while the procedure for calibration was simplified with the former technique.