Analysis of PCBs with special emphasis on comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography of atropisomers

Sammanfattning: There are 209 PCB congeners, 136 of which have been found in technical PCB mixtures and hence may be found in the environment as a result of either intentional or unintentional release. The identification and quantification of the congeners are difficult due to analytical bias from coeluting PCBs and other persistent organic pollutants.Among the 209 possible PCB congeners, 19 tri- and tetra-ortho chlorinated congeners exist in stable atropisomeric conformations. The racemization barrier were determined for twelve of the nineteen atropisomers and was found to be between 176-185 kJ