Head-space analysis for the quantitative determination of trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene in oils and liquid paraffin.

Several methods are known for the detection of traces of solvents in oil or paraffin. A gravimetric method (3) and a rapid colorimetrie method for the determination of residual solvents (4) are not sensitive enough. The same is true for the method developed by Eisdorf er &,Mehlenbacher (5) for the detenninatipn of trichloroethylene in plant oils after extraction with xylene. Rather sensitive detection is possible by gas chfomatography. Thus, Watts &Holswade (6) injected the oil directly on the GC column. Theiler (7) adapted this method for the detection of residual solvent in oils. For example, oleoresine is injected onto a preeolumn packed with silica gel. The carrier gas, nitrogen, takes the solvents out of the sample into the separation column. By this means only readily volatile substances are detected. Herbolsheimer & Funk (8) developed a head-space method for the detection of trichloroethylene and its metabolites in blood and urine of humans, who had been exposed to this solvent.