GC analysis of trichloroacetic acid in water samples by large-volume injection and thermal decarboxylation in a programmed-temperature vaporizer

Structural investigation of perfluorocarboxylic acid derivatives formed in the reaction with N,N-dimethylformamide dialkylacetals

A structural investigation of perfluorocarboxylic acid derivatives formed in the reaction with N,N-dimethylformamide dialkylacetals employing several techniques of mass spectrometry (MS) is described. Two derivatizing reagents, dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal (DMF-DMA) and dimethylformamide diethylacetal (DMF-DEA) were used. In contrast to carboxylic acids, perfluorocarboxylic acids are not able to form alkyl esters as the main product in this reaction. We found that perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) forms a salt with N,N-dimethylformamide dialkylacetals. This salt undergoes a further reaction inside the injection block of a gas chromatograph (GC) by loss of CO₂ and then forms 1,1-perfluorooctane-(N,N,N,N-tetramethyl)-diamine. The GC-MS experiments using both electron ionization (EI) and positive-ion chemical ionization (PCI) revealed that the same reaction products are formed with either derivatizing reagent. Subjecting the perfluorocarboxylic acid derivative to electrospray ionization (ESI) and direct analysis in real time (DART), both positive- and negative-ion modes indicated that cluster ions are formed. In the positive-ion mode, this cluster ion consists of two iminium cations and one PFOA anion, while in the negative-ion mode, it comprises two PFOA anions and one cation. The salt structure was further confirmed by liquid injection field desorption/ionization (LIFDI) as well as infrared (IR) spectroscopy. We propose a simple mechanism of N,N,N',N'-tetramethylformamidinium cation formation. The structure elucidation is supported by specific fragment ions as obtained by GC-EI-MS and GC-PCI-MS analyses.

Determination of trichloroacetic acid in environmental studies using carbon 14 and chlorine 36

Radioisotopes carbon 14 and chlorine 36 were used to elucidate the environmental role of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) formerly taken to be a herbicide and a secondary air pollutant with phytotoxic effects. However, use of 14C-labeling posed again known analytical problems, especially in TCA extraction from the sample matrix. Therefore--after evaluation of available methods--a new procedure using decarboxylation of [1,2-14C]TCA combined with extraction of the resultant 14C-chloroform with a non-polar solvent and its subsequent radiometric measurement was developed. The method solves previous difficulties and permits an easy determination of amounts between 0.4 and 20 kBq (10 - 500 ng g(-1)) of carrier-less [1,2-14C]TCA in samples from environmental investigations. The procedure is, however, not suitable for direct [36Cl]TCA determination in chlorination studies with 36Cl. Because TCA might be microbially degraded in soil during extraction and sample storage and its extraction from soil or needles is never complete, the decarboxylation method--i.e. 2 h TCA decomposition to chloroform and CO2 in aqueous solution or suspension in closed vial at 90 degrees C and pH 4.6 with subsequent CHCl3 extraction-is recommended here, estimated V < 7%. Moreover, the influence of pH and temperature on the decarboxylation of TCA in aqueous solution was studied in a broad range and its environmental relevance is shown in the case of TCA decarboxylation in spruce needles which takes place also at ambient temperatures and might amount more than 10-20% after a growing season. A study of TCA distribution in spruce needles after below-ground uptake shows the highest uptake rate into current needles which have, however, a lower TCA content than older needle-year classes, TCA biodegradation in forest soil leads predominatingly to CO2.

Microbiological aspects of determination of trichloroacetic acid in soil

Soils have been shown to possess a strong microbial trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-degrading activity. High TCA-degradation rate was also observed during soil extraction with water. For correct measurements of TCA levels in soil all TCA-degrading activities have to be inhibited immediately after sampling before analysis. We used rapid freezing of soil samples (optimally in liquid nitrogen) with subsequent storage and slow thawing before analysis as an efficient technique for suppressing the degradation. Frozen soil samples stored overnight at -20 degrees C and then thawed slowly exhibited very low residual TCA-degrading activity for several hours. Omitting the above procedure could lead to the confusing differences between the TCA levels previously reported in the literature.