Determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, and biphenyls by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the negative chemical ionization mode with different reagent gases.

Reagent gases that are used in mass spectrometry in the NCI mode for the determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and biphenyls (PCBs) are discussed. Ion-molecule reactions and respective characteristic ions that form while using reagent gases (CH(4), O(2), i-C(4)H(10), NH(3), H(2), He, Ar, Xe, SF(6)) or gas mixtures (CH(4)/O(2), Ar/CH(4), CH(4)/H(2)O, Ar/O(2), i-C(4)H(10)/CH(2)Cl(2)/O(2)) are reviewed. It is shown that only CH(4), O(2), CH(4)/O(2), and CH(4)/N(2)O are widely used and well studied, even though-in the case of these reagent gases-there are contradictions between the publications of various authors. Such reagent gases as NH(3) and He are not well studied, but further investigations of their use for the determination of organochlorine pollutants could be of interest. The possibilities of more sensitive and selective determination of PCDDs, PCDFs, and PCBs are discussed. Copyright 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.