Determination of decabromobiphenyl ether in water and sediment samples by gas chromatography with electron capture detection.

Traces of decabromobiphenyl ether (DBBE) in water and sediment were determined by capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Rapid sample preparation techniques such as disk-type C18 solid-phase extraction and cartridge-type Florisil extraction were used to clean up water and sediment samples, respectively. The detection limits of DBBE were 0.12 ng/mL and 9.7 ng/g in water and sediment, respectively. Average recoveries of DBBE added to river water, sea water, and sediment were 103%, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 8.6%; 87%, with an RSD of 10.7%; and 91%, with an RSD of 6.3%, respectively.