Evaluation of Several Columns and Solvents for Post-Extraction Gel Permeation Chromatography Clean-up of Fish Tissue Prior to PCB Analysis

The determination of PCBs, as well as other environmental contaminants, in fish tissue requires extensive sample cleanup prior to analysis by gas chromatography with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD). The high fat content of fish tissue can cause buildup of nonvolatile materials on the GC injection port and the analytical column. This application note evaluates several GPC clean-up columns and mobile phases that would give faster throughput and use less solvent for the post-extraction clean-up of fish tissue prior to PCB analysis via GC-ECD.