Possibilities and limitations of tracing industrial effluents in the sea by means of capillary chromatography

Certain organic constituents of waste water, such as halocarbons and chlorophenols, can be used to establish the distribution pattern of effluents discharged into the sea. The approach requires simple sampling techniques and highly sensitive and rapid analytical methods. The combination of glass capillary column gas chromatography and electron-capture-detection meets the analytical requirements. The selectivity of the detector, together with the high resolving power of the column, makes it possible to handle the complex sea-water matrix. Selective derivatization directly in the water sample is combined with simultaneous extraction to increase the number of suitable tracers. Halocarbons can be measured at pg/1 levels. Chlorophenols are determined at ng/1 concentration levels.