Gas-liquid chromatographic separation of sulfur from chlorinated pesticide residues in wastewater samples

The presence of colloidal sulfur and organo-sulfur compounds in wastewaters and sediments due to bacterial reduction of sulfates and oxidation of sulfides, human and animal wastes, industrial discharge, mineral sources, and agricultural run-off has been well documented (NAGANO, 1950; AULENBACH and HEUKELEKIAN, 1955; MASON, 1962; McKEE and WOLF, 1963). The interferences of sulfur in the analysis of extracts containing certain chlorinated pesticides (e.g., o,p'-DDE, pjp'-DDE, aldrin, lindane, heptachlor) by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) has been reported (AHLING and JENSEN, 1970; SCHUTZMAN, et aZ, 1971) when electron capture detectors were employed. Liquid phases were those normally recommended (DOMINICK, 1971) for pesticide analysis: DC-200, QF-I, OV-17, OV-210, coated on a support of Gas-Chrom Q.