Validation of a method for the determination of short-chain chlorinated paraffins in soil and sediments

An alternative approach for the reliable quantification of short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) in sediment and soil, based on the existing method of carbon skeleton gas chromatography is presented. The method is proposed to establish an operationally defined measurand. The number of analytes to be looked at is notably reduced and the calibration problems encountered with the electron capture negative ionisation detection overcome because the conversion efficiency and the response are largely independent on the chlorine content of SCCPs. The accurate quantification is facilitated by the availability of n-alkanes as pure standards for calibration. To achieve the comparable results between laboratories, this method should be standardised. The first steps of this process, in-house development and full validation in sediment and soil, are presented for the first time. The limit of detection and quantification of 1.1 and 3.5 nmol g−1, respectively, repeatability of 5% and relative expanded uncertainty of 12% were achieved providing a routinely applicable method for a reliable quantification of SCCPs.