Automated Clean-up of PCB extracts from Waste Oil using the Agilent 7696A Sample Prep WorkBench

Solid waste, including petroleum based waste oils, transformer oil or mineral oil are screened for the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The analysis is typically performed by GC-ECD or GC-MS after clean-up using column chromatography, solid phase extraction (SPE), or dispersive solid phase extraction (d-SPE). Clean-up on silica or acidified silica removes polar constituents that can interfere with the PCB analytes and/or contaminate the analytical system. A miniaturized dispersive SPE method using SiOH/H2SO4 adsorbent was automated on the Agilent 7696A Sample Prep WorkBench system. The extracts could be purified efficiently and reproducible. In combination with GC-ECD, GC-MS or GC-MS/MS, also applying back-flushing, an automated, accurate and robust determination of PCBs in waste oils is possible.