TRACE DETERMINATION OF TETRACHLOROETHYLENE IN NATURAL-WATERS BY DIRECT AQUEOUS INJECTION HIGH-PRESSURE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A rapid method for quantitative routine determinations of traces of tetrachloroethylene in natural waters is described. Water samples of 10-ml volume are introduced directly into a reversed-phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) system (octadecylsilica, methanol/water). Detection is performed by UV absorption of 208 nm. A precision of plus or minus 2. 5% and a detection limit of 0. 06 mu mol of tetrachloroethylene per L of water were achieved. A wide concentration range (0. 06-110 mu mol L** minus **1) can be covered. The method was successfully applied in an actual water pollution case. Other possible applications of the same technique are discussed.