Development of a Solid Phase Carbon Trap for Simultaneous Determination of PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs, and Pesticides in Environmental Samples Using SFE-LC

The purpose of this study was to find materials that can be used as a solid phase trap in a commercial supercritical fluid extraction instrument. PX-21 active carbon mixed with ODS proved to yield the best results. After SFE of the target compounds, the planar fraction containing the environmental pollutants PCDDs, PCDFs, and planar PCBs was successfully separated on a PX-21 solid phase trap from the nonplanar fraction containing the other PCBs and pesticides. Direct injection of the concentrated fractions on GC/MS was possible without further cleanup. SFE followed by on-line carbon column chromatography was tested using standard solutions (applied on filter paper) as well as biological samples (human adipose tissue).