Simultaneous analysis of grain and grain-based products for ethylene dibromide, carbon tetrachloride, and ethylene dichloride.

A method is described for the simultaneous measurement of parts per billion levels of the fumigants ethylene dibromide, carbon tetrachloride, and ethylene dichloride in grain and grain-based products. The fumigants are isolated by hexane co-distillation, separated by capillary gas chromatography, and detected with a mass spectrometer in the selected ion monitoring mode. Recoveries are greater than 90% and standard deviations are approximately 10% of the quantity measured. The method is free of interferences and its precision and accuracy are enhanced by the use of tetradeuterated ethylene dibromide and ethylene dichloride as internal standards.