Chloro-bis-propyl Ethers in the Elbe River – Isomeric Distribution and Enantioselective Degradation

Cyclodextrin derivatives are evaluated as chiral stationary phases for the enantiomer separation of chlorinated bis(propyl) ethers (BPE). The enantiomeric composition of the 2,3,2′,3′- and 1,3,2′,3′-isomers of tetrachlorobis(propyl) ether in the Elbe River has been quantitatively determined by enantioselective gas chromatography and coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in selected-ion-monitoring mode. Significant enantiomeric discriminations are observed in selected water samples, indicating that enantioselective bio-degradation mechanisms are at least partly responsible for the overall degradation processes.