DETERMINATION OF (Z)-9-TETRADECEN-1-OL FORMATE, A HELIOTHIS SPP MATING DISRUPTANT, IN AIR BY ELECTRON-CAPTURE GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY FOLLOWING PHOTOLYTIC CLEANUP

A sensitive method for determination of (Z)-9-tetradecen-l-ol formate (Z-9-tdf) in air has been developed. The compound is trapped on a bed of Chromosorb 102, eluted from the bed with hexane, and reacted with bromine to form the wc-dibromide. The latter is subjected to two cleanup procedures-silica gel microcolumn chromatography, followed by thin-film ultraviolet light irradiation-and is then determined by electron-capture gas chromatography. Recovery through the method after correction for a consistent 40% loss of dibromide during UV cleanup is about 89%, and the quantitative limit in unpolluted air is less than 3 ng/m3. Identity of the Z-9-tdf-dibromide may be confirmed at levels of 40 ng/m3 and above by saponification and reaction with acetyl chloride to form the corresponding acetate. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.