Quantitative multiresidue analyses for volatile organics in water and milk, using a fused silica open-tubular wide-bore capillary column and automated headspace gas chromatography.

A modified multiresidue capillary gas chromatographic (GC) procedure has been developed using automated headspace sampling and a wide-bore fused silica open-tubular (FSOT) capillary column for the determination of volatiles in water and milk. Compounds are quantitated by the method of standard additions. An IBM System 9000 computer with the CAPMC3 chromatographic applications package and a BASIC linear regression program are used for data reduction. Data are presented for solutions prepared by fortifying water and milk with volatile solvents such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, benzene, methylene chloride, and chloroform, which are commonly used in the manufacture of packaging materials and adhesives. The wide-bore FSOT capillary columns showed dramatically improved detection for certain compounds, compared with normal-bore capillary GC columns. Data presented for various chemicals demonstrate the improved limits of detection from the use of automated headspace gas chromatography with wide-bore capillary columns and flame ionization detection.