Conversion of a Dohrmann Microcoulometric Gas Chromatograph to a convenient and rapid “total chloride” unit

Abstract

In quantitative residue investigations of the persisting organochlorine pesticides in foodstuffs there is frequent need to establish magnitudes of the total organically bound chlorine present. “Total” residue values of this sort can be interpreted in terms of the most toxic compound thought to be present, or with pesticides that are mixtures initially (such as BHC, Tedion, toxaphene, or chlordane) or that degrade to mixtures (such as DDT, DDE, DDD, and DDA) they can represent that mixture existing as a persisting residue. When organic chloride detection methods are coupled with gas chromatography, as in the Dohrmann Microcoulometric Gas Chromatograph, a high degree of specificity in residue methodology is achievable, as discussed elsewhere (1, 2). This instrumentation also provides the presently very necessary detection in the microgram region.