Direct Quantitation of PCB Congeners Using a Helium Discharge Detector and Internal Standard Techniques

Abstract

Individual PCB congeners have been quantitated at ppm levels, with an average error of ±3.2%, with the use of a helium discharge detector (HDD) for element-selective detection of Cl emission. Chlorinated internal standards of known concentrations were added to each solution determined to establish the relative peak areas per unit concentration of Cl present. No detector precalibration or response factor formulations were required, since the detector response is based solely on the moles of Cl present. The same methodology was utilized to determine the % Cl in Aroclor samples without prior identification of the PCB congeners present.