Separation and screening of short-chain chlorinated paraffins in environmental samples using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with micro electron capture detection

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are highly complex technical mixtures with thousands of isomers and numerous homologs. They are classified as priority candidate persistent organic pollutants under the Stockholm Convention for their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. Analyzing SCCPs is challenging because of the complexity of the mixtures. Chromatograms of SCCPs acquired using one-dimensional (1D) gas chromatography (GC) contain a large characteristic “peak” with a broad and unresolved profile. Comprehensive two-dimensional GC (GC×GC) shows excellent potential for separating complex mixtures. In this study, GC×GC coupled with micro electron capture detection (μECD) was used to separate and screen SCCPs. The chromatographic parameters, including the GC column types, oven temperature program, and modulation period, were systematically optimized. The SCCP congeners were separated into groups using a DM-1 column connected to a BPX-50 column. The SCCP congeners in technical mixtures were separated according to the number of chlorine substituents for a given carbon chain length and according to the number of carbon atoms plus chlorine atoms for different carbon chain lengths. A fish tissue sample was analyzed to illustrate the feasibility of the GC×GC–μECD method in analyzing biological samples. Over 1,500 compounds were identified in the fish extract, significantly more than were identified using 1D GC. The detection limits for five selected SCCP congeners were between 1 and 5 pg/L using the GC×GC method, and these were significantly lower than those achieved using 1D GC. This method is a good choice for analysis of SCCPs in environmental samples, exhibiting good separation and good sensitivity. Graphical Abstract

Chromatograms of a technical C10–C13 SCCP mixture with a 55 % (w/w) chlorine content obtained using a gas chromatography–electron capture detection (ECD) and b GC×GC–μECD     

Studies of chlorinated polyisobutenes. Part I. Investigations of structure by proton magnetic resonance and of thermal stability by thermal volatilization analysis

Polyisobutene was chlorinated in carbon tetrachloride solution at 60°C. with radiochlorine, and the degree of chlorination was determined radiochemically. The extent of chlorination was varied by using a wide range of chlorine/polyisobutene ratios in the reaction mixture. The products were examined by PMR spectroscopy, which showed that both methyl and methylene groups were chlorinated but that the methylene hydrogens were more readily substituted and some disubstitution of the methylene groups occurred. The effect of chlorination on the thermal stability compared to the original polymer was studied by the new technique of thermal volatilization analysis. All the chlorinated derivatives were found to degrade at lower temperatures than polyisobutene. The stability dropped progressively as the chlorine content was increased to one chlorine atom per isobutene unit and then showed less change with further increase in chlorine content.     

Chromatographic Identification of Cyclohexane Chlorination Products by an Additive Scheme for the Prediction of Retention Indices

Identification of the products of free-radical chlorination of cyclohexane seems to be a complex analytical problem due to the following principal reasons: (1) the available reference information (both standard mass spectra and gas chromatographic retention indices, RI) is strongly restricted to the data for only few simplest congeners, (2) mass spectra of isomeric chlorinated derivatives are practically indistinguishable, and (3) the number of isomers increases with the growing number of chlorine atoms in the molecule until six. To solve this problem, the modified additive scheme for precalculation of the RIs of chlorinated cyclohexanes on standard non-polar polydimethyl siloxane stationary phases was proposed and used. This approach is based on the data for congeners with fewer number of chlorine atoms in the molecule; the principal feature is its applicability to a diastereomers. The final set of both experimental and precalculated RI values permits us to identify unambiguously more than 20 products of cyclohexane chlorination in reaction mixtures. Different modes of the quality control of evaluated retention indices are discussed.     

Low-temperature radical polymerization of acrylamide in ethanol and glycerol under the action of molecular chlorine

It is shown by means of calorimetry, IR and EPR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, chromatography, and viscosimetry that radicals formed during the low-temperature action of molecular chlorine on acrylamide or its solutions in ethanol or glycerol initiate the polymerization reaction of acrylamide. It is established that during the low-temperature chlorination of pure acrylamide, polymerization takes place in the temperature range of 180–210 K with a polymer yield of ∼10%. The low-temperature chlorination of 20% solutions of acrylamide in ethanol or glycerol was performed to increase the product yield. It is shown that the low-temperature chlorination of acrylamide solution in glycerol increases the polymer yield by a factor of approximately two, and the content of chlorine in it falls by a factor of around ten. The low-temperature chlorination of acrylamide solution in ethanol did not lead to an increase in the polymer yield. A small reduction was noted in the chlorine content of the polymer.     

Impact of synthesis conditions on surface chemistry and structure of carbide-derived carbons

Carbide-derived carbons produced by chlorination of titanium carbide at 600, 800, or 1100 °C were subjected to a post-treatment at 600 °C in Ar, H₂, or NH₃ atmosphere. Experimental results suggest that the chlorination temperature influences the ordering of carbon in a manner that impacts specific surface area and porosity. Higher chlorination temperatures lead to higher total pore volume and increased ordering, but lower microporosity. The effect of post-treatments on surface chemistry is pronounced only for samples chlorinated at 600 °C; post-treatments in Ar are shown to be less effective for chlorine removal than those performed in H₂ or NH₃. Post-treatments in Ar result in a lower total pore volume compared to the ones in H₂ or NH₃ for the same chlorination temperature. Samples chlorinated at higher temperatures contained less oxygen functionalities than samples chlorinated at 600 °C, and showed correspondingly less desorption of H₂O, possibly due to diminished uptake of ambient water.     

~(13)C核磁共振研究氯化无规聚丙烯的结构

用核磁共振方法(~(13)C-NMR)研究了一系列氯化无规聚丙烯的结构。在0—52.84％(wt)的氯化度范围内,主要为单氯取代,二氯取代很少。伯、仲、叔三种氢的相对氯化活性为R(CH)>R(CH_2)>R(CH_3),并乒表明氯化反应比较均匀地发生在无规聚丙烯分子链上。影响聚丙烯氯化反应的结构因素主要为C—H键的离解能,大分子自由基稳定性和大分子链构型等。     

Validation interlaboratory trial for ISO 12010: Water quality—Determination of short-chain polychlorinated alkanes (SCCP) in water

A validation interlaboratory trial was carried out to prepare ISO 12010: Water quality??Determination of short-chain polychlorinated alkanes (SCCP) in water??Method using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and electron capture negative ionisation (ECNI). The task was to determine the sum of short-chain polychlorinated n-alkanes with carbon chain lengths of C₁₀?CC₁₃ and a chlorine content between 49% (g/100?g) and 67% (g/100?g) in water by GC-ECNI-MS. The quantification had to be performed by multiple linear regression as described in ISO/DIS 12010, the compulsory method. Samples distributed were real river samples, and waste water spiked with a target concentration of 0.4 and 0.6???g/L for the sum of SCCPs, i.e. a concentration around the environmental quality target level according to the European Water Framework Directive. The different types of water samples tested were surface water with <150?mg/L suspended matter, surface water with 0.5?g/L suspended matter, and filtered waste waster. The interlaboratory trial included the extraction of the water samples, a column chromatographic clean up, a concentration step, and integration of chromatographic unresolved complex mixtures as well as the calibration and quantification by multiple linear regression. The reproducibility standard deviation of the standard concentration was 11.9%. Reproducibility standard deviations of concentrations in the three different water samples between 27.8 and 34.2% were achieved by 10?C12 participating laboratories from six countries.     

The structure of chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride). VI. Comparison of the chlorination of poly(vinyl chloride) and β,β-d2-poly(vinyl chloride) with 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy

Samples of chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride) (CPVC) and chlorinated β,β-dideuterated poly(vinyl chloride) (β,β-d₂-CPVC) were prepared under identical reaction conditions. The microstructure of CPVC and β,β-d₂-(CPVC) was characterized by a combination of ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy, and analytically determined chlorine content. A difference was observed in the reaction rates of chlorination of PVC and β,β-d₂-PVC, and, in their thermal chlorination in solution, also in the structure of the chlorinated products. It was proved that in the chlorination of β,β-d₂-PVC a new chlorine atom can also enter the original? CHCl? group. The results are discussed from the standpoint of the chlorination mechanism.     

Chloride-enhanced atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry of polychlorinated n-alkanes

The use of high-performance liquid chromatography combined with chloride-enhanced atmospheric pressure chemical ionization for the determination of polychlorinated n-alkanes (PCAs, also called chlorinated paraffins or CPs) is described as an alternative to gas chromatographic methods. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization in the negative ion mode formed exclusively [M+Cl](-) adduct ions and suppressed fragmentation when a chlorinated solvent was added. Limits of detection were 1-2 ng/microL for technical PCA mixtures. Response factors for single short-chain PCA homologues with different degrees of chlorination varied by not more than a factor of 6.5. The developed method was applied for the determination of the composition of technical PCA mixtures as well as for the analysis of PCAs in household commodities. Medium-chain PCAs were found in paint samples at concentrations of 8.2-11.5% (w/w), compared with 7.4-11.5% obtained by gas chromatography combined with electron ionization tandem mass spectrometry.     

Critical Miscibility Phenomenain Blends of Chlorinated Polyethylenes

Critical miscibility phenomena in binary blends of chlorinated polyethylenes (CPEs) with a wide range of degree of chlorination (37 to 69 wt 970 CI) were studied by measuring the glass transition behavior. At a given temperature the miscibility of the blends was principally dependent on the difference in chlorine content between the two component CPEs and also on the mean degree of chlorination. The miscibility of these systems at 150°C was maximal around an average mole fraction chlorination, β, of 0.5. The systems displayed upper critical solution temperatures when β was below 0.5, while lower critical solution temperatures were observed when β | was above 0.5. At a given β, | the consolute points converged as the difference in chlorine content of the blend constituents increased. It appears that this double consolute point temperature decreases with increasing average degree of chlorination. A more refined analysis, taking into account the possible presence of CCl₂ units and the microstructure of the CPEs, is also presented.     

Evaluation of four mass spectrometric methods for the gas chromatographic analysis of polychlorinated n-alkanes

The suitability of four mass spectrometric methods for the gas chromatographic analysis of polychlorinated n-alkanes (PCAs, also called chlorinated paraffins) was evaluated and compared using spiked and fish liver samples. Electron ionization tandem mass spectrometry (EI-MS/MS) as well as electron capture negative ionization (ECNI) combined with low and high resolution mass spectrometry and CH4/CH2Cl2-negative ion chemical ionization (NICI) low resolution mass spectrometry were investigated. All methods showed an accuracy of <21% for the analysis of spiked fish samples. However, the analysis of real samples showed deviations of up to 46% between the four mass spectrometric methods. The influence of the selected reference standard on quantification was also evaluated. The use of a quantification standard with a degree of chlorination deviating from that of the sample can result in differences of > 100% for the ECNI methods. EI-MS/MS and CH4/CH2Cl2-NICI led to errors of maximum 17% and 33%, respectively, independent from the degree of chlorination of the used reference standard.     

Gas chromatographic identification of chlorination products of aliphatic ketones

Chlorinated derivatives of aliphatic ketones are a class of organic compounds poorly characterized by both mass spectra and chromatographic retention indices up to present. It is caused by objective difficulties of isolation of individual products from reaction mixtures formed in the result of non-selective chlorination of parent carbonyl compounds. Nevertheless the differences of GC retention indices for structurally analogous chlorination products of different ketones and initial substrates indicate the constancy depending on the number and position of chlorine atoms in the molecules. This feature permits us to use the simplest kind of additive schemes in identification of such chlorinated derivatives, including diastereomeric α,α'-dichloro-k-alkanones (k>2). Hence, the identification of chlorination products of aliphatic ketones becomes possible for any compounds of this class without using mass spectrometric data only in the result of accurate measurement of their GC retention indices.     

Initial stage of the chlorination of natural rubber

Kinetics of the initial stage of the chlorination of natural rubber(NR), up to chlorine content ⩽1 Cl/C₅, have been investigated using a stop-flow method in CCl₄ at room temperature. The chlorination is very fast and is accelerated by the product HCl. The first orders of the reaction rate relative to NR, Cl₂, and HCl were established. A proposed mechanism includes formation of molecular complexes between polymer units, Cl₂ and HCl; the corresponding kinetic equation described satisfactorily the experimental data. Kinetic characteristics of the chlorination of the model compound 2-methylpentene-2(MP) are the same as for NR. The noncatalytic and autocatalytic rate constants for MP are close to those for NR. Compositional heterogeneity of chlorinated NR(CNR) containing <1 Cl/C₅ has been studied by cross-fractionation. The sample chlorinated by the routine procedure is markedly heterogeneous whereas the sample prepared in the stop-flow unit (where extremely fast mixing is realized) is quite homogeneous. These results lead to the conclusions: (1) high reaction rate is caused by high reactivity of “kinetically independent” NR units, not by a polymeric effect; (2) great compositional heterogeneity of CNR samples prepared by the routine procedure is caused by macrokinetic factors.     

Chlorination mechanism of polyethylene crystals

A new chlorination mechanism has been suggested for polyethylene crystals. Based on electron microsocopy and infrared spectroscopy of chlorinated high-density polyethylene single crystals, it is proposed that beyond the initial chlorination of the lamellae surfaces, which accounts for only 2-3% chlorine uptake, the reaction proceeds through the lamellar side faces from the periphery inward. Thus at intermediate degrees of chlorination two major phases coexist: the undamaged interior regions of the lamellae and the surrounding chlorinated material. This mechanism differs from that of oxidative degradation, and also from the generally Accepted mechanism of chlorination. Rather than proceeding through the reacted fold surface into the crystalline core, it is proposed that the direction of chemical attack is prependicular to that suggested previously. This mechanism probably describes any chemically nondestructive attack on the crystalline regions of polymers in general.     

Miscibility of Some Polycarbonates with Polyvinyl Chloride and Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride

The phase behavior of several polycarbonate homopolymers and copolymers blended with PVC and chlorinated PVCs (CPVCs) has been investigated. Tetrachlorobisphenol-A polycarbonate (TCPC) is miscible in all proportions with PVC and CPVCs containing up to70.2 wt% chlorine. CPVCs having chlorine contents greater than 70.2% (by weight) are immiscible with TCPC. Tetrabromobisphenol-A polycarbonate (TBPC) exhibits phase mixing with PVC and CPVCs; however, the high T_g of this polycarbonate (260°C) prevents adequate investigation of equilibrium phase behavior. Bisphenol-A polycarbonate (BPC), tetramethylbisphenol-A polycarbonate (TMPC), and hexafluorobisphenol-A polycarbonate (HFPC) form two-phase mixtures with the vinyl polymers. Microstructural differences in the CPVCs due to chlorination method (solution chlorination vs. slurry chlorination) have no effect on the miscibility results. Miscibility was observed in several copolycarbonate/CPVC blends and was found to be dependent on copolymer composition. Using a binary interaction, mean-field theory, segmental interaction parameters were estimated for repeat unit interactions. Based on the estimated interaction parameters, miscibility in these blends is primarily the result of intramolecular repulsive effects, rather than strong intermolecular attractive forces.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

大体积采样结合高分辨气相色谱-电子捕获负化学源-低分辨质谱法测定空气中的短链氯化石蜡

建立了大体积采样结合高分辨气相色谱-电子捕获负化学源-低分辨质谱(HRGC-ECNI-LRMS)测定空气中短链氯化石蜡(SCCPs)的定量分析方法。联合使用酸化硅胶复合层析柱和碱性氧化铝层析柱净化处理空气样品中的SCCPs,并对净化条件进行优化。使用该方法计算得到氯含量为58.1%~63.3%的SCCPs系列标准储备溶液的总响应因子与氯含量线性相关,相关系数(R²)大于0.99。该方法的仪器检出限(S/N≥3)为4.2 pg,定量限(S/N≥10)为12 pg。SCCPs的方法检出限(MDL)为0.34 ng/m³(n=7),实际样品加标回收率均达80%以上。该方法灵敏度高、选择性好,能满足空气样品中SCCPs的监测和分析需求。     

NMR studies of chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride) and polybutadiene

Molecular structures of chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride) and polybutadiene have been studied by high resolution NMR. The spectra of the chlorinated polymers give broad signals. New peaks appear in the lower fields of the ? CH₂? and ? CHCl? groups with increasing chlorine content. The chlorination of poly(vinyl chloride) takes place predominantly on ? CH₂? rather than on ? CHCl? , e.g., a 70% chlorinated polymer has about 10 mole-% of ? CCl₂? groups. Polybutadiene reacts first with chlorine by addition to give a head-to-head poly(vinyl chloride), and then the substitution of the hydrogen atom takes place. Chlorinated polybutadiene with 70% Cl has about 18 mole-% of ? CCl₂? . The multiplets characteristic of spin-spin couplings in the spectrum of the original poly(vinyl chloride) are still observed in that of the highly chlorinated product. This fact shows that a considerable number of poly(vinyl chloride) sequences of certain lengths persist in the highly chlorinated polymer.     

Evaluation of chlorinated by-products in drinking waters of Central Friuli (Italy)

Drinkable water supplied by aqueducts undergoes preliminar potabilization which, in Italy, is mainly accomplished by chlorine addition. The bactericidal action involved in this process is always accompanied by chlorination and oxidation of organic species (mainly humic and fulvic acids) naturally present in treated waters, so that many disinfection by-products (DBPs) are formed, such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and halo-acetic acids (HAA), which can represent a chemical risk for public health. The aim of this study was the monitoring of DBPs in drinking water disinfected by chlorination, supplied by four different aqueducts of Central Friuli (Italy). DBP evaluations were performed in water samples consisting of both input and output of disinfection plants. The results of analytical determinations were worked out to provide the THM and HAA parameters for disinfected waters, while in feeding waters the following different conventional parameters were adopted: (i) trihalomethanes formation potential (THMFP), (ii) halo-acetic acids formation potential (HAAFP) and (iii) UV absorbance at 254 nm (UV254). The quite moderate content of chlorinated products found in all samples considered highlighted the excellent quality of potabilized waters available in Central Friuli. Moreover, our results confirmed that the majority of DBPs formed when chlorine is used for water disinfection consists of THMs, while chlorites and chlorates prevailed when potabilization is accomplished by using chlorine dioxide. Finally, simple UV254 monitoring turned out to be a profitable approach for the determination of chlorinated by-products only when THMs prevail among DBPs.     

Differentiation of the halogen content of peat samples using ion chromatography after combustion (TX/TOX-IC)

The proposed method for the differential AOX analysis of water samples was tested for its applicability to differentiate the halogen content of peat samples. For determination of the total and the total organic-bound chlorine, bromine and iodine, peat samples were combusted, and the combustion gases trapped and analyzed by ion chromatography (TX/TOX-IC). The total and the organically bound chlorine, bromine and iodine, respectively, can be determined by two-fold analysis with deviations of around 10%. With respect to chlorine more than a double determination could be required. The limit of quantification is 20 mg kg(-1) for chlorine, 2 mg kg(-1) for bromine and 1 mg kg(-1) for iodine, if 25 mg of peat is combusted. The most crucial step of the analysis is the inorganic halogen removal, which is necessary if the organically bound fraction is determined. However, there are some uncertainties about the complete removal of the inorganic halides from the solid samples. Thus, the values of the organically bound fraction have to be discussed as maximal concentrations. Nevertheless, we suggest that the applied method can be useful as a tool for studying the fate of halogens in soils.     

Preparation and structure of chlorinated poly(vinyl flouride)

The low-temperature chlorination of poly(vinyl fluoride) (PVF) proceeds readily in CCl₄ suspension. The rate of chlorination is high initially, but the reaction slows down considerably when the chlorine content of the polymer reaches 40–50%. At long reaction times, polymers containing 62% chlorine (1.88 chlorine atoms per monomer unit) can be obtained. As the degree of chlorination increases, the solubility of PVF in organic solvents increases. Polymer crystallinity and polymer softening point decrease with chlorination. Polymers containing 40% chlorine appear to be completely amorphous by x-ray analysis. In this respect, PVF differs from poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), where chlorination increases the softening point, and it resembles polyethylene where both crystallinity and softening point decrease with chlorination. ¹⁹F NMR analysis of the polymers indicates that up to a degree of chlorination of 1 chlorine atom per monomer unit, 50% of the substitution occurs on the α-carbon of the PVF molecule. This result is very different from the predominant β-chlorination of PVC reported by several workers. The chemical selectivity observed in the chlorination of PVF is in quantitative agreement with the results of free-radical chlorination of organic compounds and can be rationalized by considering the size and the electronic properties of the fluorine atom. The results of ¹H NMR analysis are also in support of a polymer structure where the chlorine atoms are distributed between α- and β-carbons. Based on a comparison of the ¹⁹F and ¹H NMR data, the average composition of chlorinated PVF at the 1 chlorine atom per monomer unit level can be represented as: C₂₀₀H₂₀₀F₁₀₀Cl₁₀₀ = (CH₂)₆₃(CHF)₅₀(CHCl)₂₄(CClF)₅₀-(CCl₂)₁₃.