Comparison of electron-capture and electrolytic conductivity detection for the gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of some perfluoro derivatives of four agricultural chemicals.

The gas chromatographic response of four perfluoro derivatives, of four agricultural chemical [diethylstilbestrol] (DES) clopidol, linuron and carbofuran] was examined. The derivatives varied in fluorine content from 3 to 30 atoms per molecule. The sensitivities of the derivatives were found to be ca. 10-100 times greater by electron-capture detection than by electrolytic conductivity detection (halogen mode). The sensitivity also was found to increase with increasing fluorine content for all derivatives by electrolytic conductivity, whereas by electron capture, DES and clopidol exhibited similar responses with either the penta-, hepta-, or pentadeca-fluoro derivatives. The sensitivity of linuron and carbofuran derivatives by electron capture varied with increasing fluorine content. For detection by electron capture, the hepta-fluorobutyryl derivatives were preferred for DES and clopidol, and either the hepta-fluorobutyryl or the pentadecafluorooctanoyl derivatives for linuron and carbofuran. For detection by electrolytic conductivity, the pentadecafluorooctanoyl derivatives were superior for all four compounds.