DETERMINATION OF CHLOROPHENOLS AND CHLOROBENZENES IN LEACHATE BY HEADSPACE ANALYSIS

The application of headspace analysis for the determination of chlorophenols, chlorobenzenes and hexachlorocyclohexanes in water and leachate samples is described. Detailed calibration tests were performed with one isomer of each chlorination degree in aqueous reference samples. Linearity was observed for all of the components investigated with the corresponding correlation coefficients >0,995. The method was applied to a highly contaminated leachate from a hazardous waste landfill. Triplicate measurements were performed, with relative standard deviations <15%. Main components of the chlorobenzenes were mono- to trichlorobenzenes, detected at concentrations of 800 and 2000 ppb. Within the class of chlorophenols, 2,4- and 2,5- dichlorophenol were found at maximal concentrations of 150 ppm, whereas the tetrachlorophenols and pentachlorophenol were not detected at a detection limit of 1 ppb for 2,3,4,5- tetrachlorophenol. Among the hexacblorocyclohexane-isomers, gamma- and delta-HCH were the main components found at 3000 and 9000 ppb.