SPECTROSCOPY
Waters Xevo TQ-XS with APGC
DIOXIN DEVELOPMENTS N
Frank L. Dorman explores performance-based analytical methods for dioxin analysis
ew guidance from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has recognised the use of atmospheric pressure
gas chromatography (APGC) with tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (MS) as an acceptable alternative to traditional high- resolution magnetic sector MS for US EPA Method 1613B in the identification and quantification of polychloro-dioxin/ furans in environmental matrices. SGS AXYS Analytical Services led
the two-year effort that resulted in the US EPA’s approval of the alternative test procedure (ATP) – the SGS AXYS Method 16130. Te current EPA 1613B dioxin testing method has long been
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considered the gold standard, but it relies upon magnetic sector instruments that are becoming less available and supported, necessitating the development of a new test. In collaboration with Waters, SGS AXYS performed a series of studies that compared the performance of traditional magnetic sector MS to tandem quadrupole MS before submitting the necessary data for the ATP request. Here we discuss the analytical advances
in dioxin analysis and the road to validating the new method.
WHAT ARE DIOXINS? Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans
(PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of chemically related compounds, known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), that are extremely toxic, persistent, and bioaccumulative environmental contaminants. Tese compounds arise mainly from human activity such as waste incineration and certain industrial activities. Analysis of chlorinated dioxins and furans is required to: ensure industrial emissions meet regulatory standards; track sources of ongoing emissions; monitor the food supply; identify contaminated sites; provide input into risk assessments; and contribute to human health assessment by measuring body burdens. However, due to their presence in trace amounts, highly sophisticated and sensitive analytical systems that provide very low thresholds of detection are required to measure them.
DECADES OF ANALYTICAL ADVANCES Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has been the mainstay of dioxin analysis for many years. Tis technology improved the low detection limits and problems with specificity experienced with electron capture detection (ECD) and GC prior to the 1970s but requires intensive front-end chemistry to separate
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