Characterization of commercial Aroclors by automated mass spectrometric determination of polychlorinated biphenyls by level of chlorination

Determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by level of chlorination provided distinguishing characteristic features for nine Aroclor formulations that are available as reference materials. Individual PCB components that were present in sufficient quantity to be detected and measured in 100 ng of each Aroclor mixture were distinguished by level of chlorination, relative retention time, and relative abundance. With data acquired in this study, individual Aroclors can be determined with relative ease, and mixed Aroclor determinations are possible but impractical for routine analyses of environmental samples. The accuracy of PCB determinations with this approach depends on the similarity of injected quantities of sample extracts and solutions containing reference Aroclors. Detection limits were estimated for individual components of isomer groups measured in extracts of reagent water fortified with mixed Aroclors.