Extraction and Cleanup for Determination of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Paper and Paperboard
Abstract A procedure is described for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in paper and paperboard. PCBs are extracted from the paper sample by reflux with alcoholic KOH. Column chromatography on Florisil is used for cleanup, if needed. Compounds are determined by GLC with electron capture detection, using conditions previously devised for organochlorine pesticides. An exhaustive extraction utilizing sulfuric acid was developed in order to obtain comparative data on extraction effectiveness. Recoveries of Aroclors 1242 and 1254 from fortified paper samples averaged 95.5 and 96.8% with the alcoholic KOH reflux and sulfuric acid digestion extractions, respectively. Aroclor 1242 determined after alcoholic KOH extraction of paperboard was 96% of the amount found after sulfuric acid digestion of comparable samples. Aroclor 1242 had been incorporated into the paperboard during manufacture.