Chemical Composition of Technical Chlordane
Abstract Technical chlordane, a multicomponent organochlorine insecticide, was separated into 26 peaks by temperature-programmed gas chromatography, using a 3% OV-17 column. Peaks were identified by using combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GLC-MS) and, where individual standards were available, by comparing retention times on various columns. Technical chlordane constituents were also investigated by GLC-MS, using a Dexsil 300 column; 19–20 peaks were observed. Quantitation studies indicated differences in the per cent contributions of the constituents, particularly for heptachlor and trans-chlordane, in 2 different technical chlordane reference standards. For the same reference standard higher results were obtained by using 63Ni electron capture detection than by using flame ionization detection. By using a combination of 4 GLC columns to overcome peak overlap, we determined that the 11 known constitutents of technical chlordane constituted approximately 40%.