Structure-dependent separation method for non-Ortho PCBs with matrix-integrated quality control: A multidimensional analytical approach

A PYE 2-(1-pyrenyl)ethyldimethylsilylated silica gel] column HPLC in combination with MDGC-ECD has been developed for a sensitive and selective determination of toxic mono- and non-ortho PCBs in environmental samples. This technique was applied to environmental samples such as coastal water, suspended particulate material (SPM), coastal sediment, mussels, fish, bird and marine mammal. Determination of PCB 156 along with non-ortho congeners acted as matrix-integrated quality control parameter. This hyphenated technique offers one of the most sensitive way of determining non-ortho PCBs but also reveals the immense complexity of the coelution problem which unnoticed results in over estimation of toxic PCBs in the environmental samples.