Simultaneous enantioselective separation of chlordanes,a nonachlor compound,and o,p′–DDT in environmental samples using tandem capillary columns

Two capillary columns, one coated with 90 % biscyanopropyl 10 % phenylcyanopropylpolysiloxane (RT_x 2330) the other with dimethyl-t-butyl-silylated β-cyclodextrin dissolved in 85 % methyl 15 % phenyl polysiloxane (PS-086), have, when employed in tandem, enabled the enantioselective separation of all the chiral chlordanes present in the fish oil reference material SRM 1588, without any overlap between enantiomers of different isomers. This capillary column combination is, furthermore, able to separate the enantiomers of other chiral polychlorinated pesticides such as o,p′–DDT, oxy-chlordane, a chiral nonachlor, and heptachlor exo-epoxide. It can be used to determine the enantiomer ratio of these compounds present in the low pg/g range in extracts of marine biota and ambient air.