Congener-specific separation of compounds of technical toxaphene on a nonpolar CP-Sil 2 phase

Commercially available and persistent compounds of technical toxaphene (CTTs) were analyzed on a very nonpolar CP-Sil 2 capillary column. The bornane skeleton was divided into three parts: the six-membered ring (C1 (SINGLE BOND) C6), the substituents at the bridge (C8 and C9), and the substituents at the bridge head (C10). With two parts fixed, the influence of the third substructure on the relative retention indices (RRI) was investigated. Several substructures leading to low or high RRI values were observed. Furthermore, structural elements leading to low gas chromatographic or electron capture negative ionization response factors and influences of structure of CTTs on persistence in biota were recognized. Finally, first indications of the structure of unknown persistent CTTs are presented.