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3, N2, 2004
Summary
The aim of this work is the development of the PCBs determination method in the
transformer oil by the SPE and Gas Chromatograph analysis. The proposed method was used for
the cleanup of modeling solutions of transformer oil polluted by PCBs congeners and
Aroclor1254. PCB 209 was used as internal standard for quantitation purposes. Octadecyl bonded
silica phase AccuBOND C18 100mg/1ml cartridge was chosen for extraction performing. This
technology has shown a very good recovery (84 109 %) and accuracy for investigated samples.
The following advantages can be indicated for this method in comparison with others: a little
solvent amount, a short labor time, a low analysis cost, a good recovery and accuracy. By this
case this method can be recommended for PCBs determination in the complex oil matrix.
1. Introduction
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a subset of the synthetic organic chemicals known as
chlorinated hydrocarbons. PCBs have been produced in high volume by the chemical industry
and used as additives to oils in electrical equipment, hydraulic machinery, and other applications
where chemical stability has been required. These organic compounds can be transported for long
distances, and have been detected in the furthest corners of the globe, including places far from
where they were manufactured or used. Since PCBs exhibit a high degree of chemical and
biological stability and also lipid solubility, they tend to accumulate in the food chains and have
been detected in animal and human tissues [2,6,17]. Protection of human health and the
environment requires that PCBs be disposed of in such a way that they do not enter the
environment. The important step in the environmental management of PCBs is to identify their
sources and develop strategies for reducing or eliminating their release into the environment.
The chemical formula for PCBs is C12H(10-n)Cln, where n is a number of chlorine atoms within
the range of 1-10. Theoretically, a total of 209 possible PCBs congeners exist, but only about 130
of these are likely to occur in commercial products [4]. These compounds were widely used as
dielectric fluids: transformer oil, capacitors. The example of the total PCBs application is
characterized as follows [4]:
Germany dielectric fluids - 56 %; dissapative uses 28,7 %; hydraulic fluids 14,3 %.
Japan dielectric fluids 66 %; copying paper 18 %; heat transfer fluids 11 %; other 5
%.
USA dielectric fluids - 70 % of total application.
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Moldavian Journal of the Physical Sciences, Vol.3, N2, 2004
From this data we can see that transformer oil is a principal pollution source of PCBs in the
environment.
The US Department of Health and Human Services as well as the International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC) consider PCBs to be probable carcinogens in humans (ATSDR
1997; IARC 1987). Many countries have developed classification for PCB-containing fluids and
materials. The benchmark level for PCBs is considered as 50 mg kg-1 (or 50 ppm) in many
countries [4].
The analytical determination is very important task for the control of PCBs concentration in
the environment. Some Screening Test and Gas Chromatography methods are used for the
determination of PCBs in different media [1,15,16]. Gas Chromatography with ECD detector is
more accurate for this purpose. The matrix impact is very strong for this determination by the
case of close chemical properties of oil and our interested substances (PCBs). Different methods
for sample preparation and cleanup exist [5, 7-14,19,20]. These methods are needed in the detail
development for the specific analyses.
This paper presents the procedure for determination of PCBs in the transformer oil with the
utilization of Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) for the sample preparation. With SPE, many of the
problems associated with liquid/liquid extraction can be prevented, such as incomplete phase
separations, less-than-quantitative recoveries, use of expensive, breakable specialty glassware,
and disposal of large quantities of organic solvents. SPE is more efficient than liquid/liquid
extraction, yields quantitative extractions that are easy to perform, is rapid, and can be automated.
Solvent use and laboratory time is reduced.
2. Experimental
2.1 Chemicals
All solvents were GC-pure quality and were purchased from Supelco and Sigma-Aldrich
Inc. (Germany). A working stock solution was prepared from PCBs congener mix standard
(IUPAC Nos. 18, 29, 31, 52, 44, 101, 118, 138, 149, 180, 194) containing 10 g of each in 1 ml
of heptane, and from Aroclor 1254 1000 g in 1 ml of hexane. These standard solutions were
purchased from Supelco Inc. (Germany). PCB 209 was used as an internal standard.
Octadecyl bonded silica phase AccuBOND C18 100mg/1ml cartridge was chosen for
extraction performing. Reversed phase separations involve a polar or moderately polar sample
matrix (mobile phase) and a nonpolar stationary phase. C18 SPE cartridge has following
characteristics: surface area 546 m2 g-1; average pore size 60 ; Surface pH 7; carbon
loading 18,8%; surface coverage 1,6 mol m-2. Compounds are retained in C18 by nonpolar-
nonpolar interactions and van der Waals or dispersion forces. This cartridge is used usually for
reversed phase extraction of nonpolar to moderately polar compound [3].
2.2 Instrumentation
GC 6890 (Agilent, Germany) gas chromatograph equipped with ECD detector,
split/splitless injection system, and capillary columns HP-5MS. Parameters of the gas
chromatograph system are characterized in Table 1.
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Moldavian Journal of the Physical Sciences, Vol.3, N2, 2004
GC was calibrated with five calibration standard solutions in the concentration range 0,05
0,70 g ml-1 for PCBs, and 0,5 7,0 g ml-1 for Aroclor1254. The calibration standards were
prepared on pure oil matrix passed through cartridges C18 for the removal of the matrix impact.
The quantitative calculation was based on the area count obtained for the merged peaks. The area
obtained for interested peaks in the chromatograms was compared to the standard and calibration
curve to quantify the PCBs concentration. The analysis control and quatitation were performed
by ChemStation software version C 00-01 (Agilent).
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Moldavian Journal of the Physical Sciences, Vol.3, N2, 2004
Response_
Signal: PCB05.D\ECD1B.CH
PCB194
2.2e+07 PCB180
16.60
14.16
2e+07
1.8e+07 PCB138 a)
12.45
1.6e+07 PCB118
PCB18
PCB149
PCB167
1.4e+07 7.40
PCB44 PCB101 11.23
PCB29 11.76
8.41 11.18
1.2e+07 9.78
7.37
PCB52
1e+07
8.01
PCB31
8000000 6.64
6000000
IS DCB
4000000
18.37
2000000
7.00 8.00 9.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00 17.00 18.00
Time
Response_
Signal: AR545.D\ECD1B.CH
19
1.4e+07
b)
1.2e+07 34
12
24
1e+07 9
16
8000000
29
23 30
1
6000000 8 13 39
15
3 11
4000000 17 20 31 35 42 44
45 IS DCB
2 21 28
5 7 10 32
33
14 18 2225 36 40
37
38 4143
2000000 4 6 26
27
8.00 9.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00 17.00 18.00
Time
Fig. 1 Chromatograms of PCBs (a) and Aroclor1254 (b) standard solutions with
concentrations of 0,5 and 5,0 g ml-1 respectively
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Moldavian Journal of the Physical Sciences, Vol.3, N2, 2004
Response_
Signal: PCBOIL51.D\ECD1B.CH
PCB194
2.2e+07 16.59
2e+07 PCB180
14.16
1.8e+07
PCB138
12.45
1.6e+07
PCB18
PCB118
1.4e+07 7.41 PCB167
PCB44 11.23
11.76
PCB29 PCB149
PCB101
1.2e+07 8.42
11.18
7.38 9.79
PCB52
1e+07
8.02
PCB31
8000000 6.64
6000000 9.23
IS DCB
7.95
4000000 7.89 18.37
7.64 17.22
14.86
2000000
6.00 7.00 8.00 9.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00 17.00 18.00
Time
Response_
Signal: OIL545_1.D\ECD1B.CH
19
1.4e+07
1.3e+07
1.2e+07
34
1.1e+07 12
24
1e+07
9
9000000
16
8000000
8 29
7000000
30
1
23
6000000
13
5000000 39
15
3 IS DCB
4000000 11
17 20 31 42
35 44 45
3000000 2 21
10 28
5 7 18 32
33
22 40
14 25
37
38
36 4143
2000000 26
27
4 6
8.00 9.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00 17.00 18.00
Time
Fig. 2 Chromatograms of PCBs (a) and Aroclor1254 (b) modeling solutions with concentrations
of 0,5 and 5,0 g ml-1 respectively
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Moldavian Journal of the Physical Sciences, Vol.3, N2, 2004
The PCBs determination in transformer oil by Gas Chromatography has a strong matrix
impact. Proposed SPE extraction method has a possibility to clean up investigated modeling
samples and reduces this impact very well. Cartridges C18 are a good solution for this matrix
impact elimination. After this cleanup 1 l of the obtained extract was injected in column HP-
5MS. Chromatograms of modeling solutions have a minimal retention time drift (0,02 min) and
the close base line in comparison with chromatograms of calibration solutions.
The same result was indicated for modeling solutions of Aroclor1254 with concentrations
of 2,0 and 5,0 g ml-1 (table 4, 5). The total concentration of every 45 component can be assessed
easy by ChemStation software for this mixture. Maximal 4 peaks with retention times 9,80,
10,63, 11,24, 12,46 min have a good recovery in intervals 94,1 96,6 % for 2,0 g ml-1 and 94,6
95,0 % for 5,0 g ml-1 internal standard. The recovery for total Aroclor1254 amount is 93,1 %
for 2,0 g ml-1 and 94,9 % for 5,0 g ml-1. The internal standard recovery is 94,1 and 93,0 %
respectively for the different concentration. These good parameters for every solution are
explained by two reasons: first is a good cleanup of modeling samples by SPE procedure on C18
cartridges, and second is a good separation, resolution and accuracy of Chromatographic System
by the proposed method.
Conclusion
The utilization of AccuBOND C18 100mg/1ml cartridges with Octadecyl bonded silica
phase showed a good result of the SPE cleanup and PCBs determination by Gas Chromatography
in the transformer oil. The proposed method has following principal advantages:
reducing a solvent amount, labor time, and so an analysis cost in comparison with other
technologies;
increasing a labor capacity and number of samples up to 10 times (from 30 40 per
month to 300 400 per month for one worker);
minimization of the matrix impact on the Gas Chromatography analysis;
good recovery and accuracy of PCBs determination in the complex oil matrix.
This method can be recommended for the implementation in analytical laboratories for the
investigation of the pollutant content in the complex oil matrix.
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