Calculation of the polychlorinated terphenyl congener distribution and gas chromatographic retention behavior of selected single standards on four stationary liquid phases

Abstract

The distribution of the 8557 theoretically possible structures of polychlorinated terphenyls (PCT) over the different degrees of chlorination and basic terphenyl backbones has been calculated and is presented in detail. As congeners missing chlorine atoms in an ortho position are suspected to be as noxious to organisms as dioxins, the number of these congeners is specified as well. The gas chromatographic retention behavior of 14 PCT single standards is studied on four stationary liquid phases for capillary columns (HP-Ultra 1, HP-5MS, RSL-300 and Polycarbonate) relative to 2,2′,3,4,4′,5,5′-heptachlorobiphenyl and shows no consequent separation of PCT in terms of the degree of chlorination. Individual congeners have been assessed for their suitability as internal standards in PCT analysis.