Calculation of retention times by adding the time increments of polychlorinated biphenyls

Measured and calculated retention times of all 209 PCB congeners were compared on four columns with different polarities. The calculations were carried out by adding time increments which were derived from the 2,4,5-substituted PCB congeners. Good results were obtained on the nonpolar “CP-Select for PCBs” and “CP-Sil 8/20% C-18” and on the semi-polar “CP-Sil 19”. Worse results were obtained on a very polar “CP-Sil 88” phase. The PCB congeners which showed the highest deviation between MRTs and CRTs were the same on all phases.