HPLC Determination of Polybromo Biphenyls and Polybromo Diphenyl Ethers in Electronic and Electrical Products

Contents of polybromo biphenyls (PBB′s) and polybromo diphenyl ether (PBDE′s) in electronic and electrical products were determined by HPLC. Samples of common plastics were extracted in a micro-wave extractor with a mixture of n-hexane and acetone (1+1), and samples of plastics containing metals were extracted ultrasonically with ethyl acetate. The extract was separated on NUCLEODUR Sphinx RP C18 column by gradient elution with water and acetonitrile mixed solutions of different ratio, and determined at the wavelength of 226 nm. Linear relationships between values of peak area and mass concentration of PBB′s and PBDE′s were kept in the same range of 0.2-50 mg·L-1 with lower limits of determination (10S/N) in the range of 2.3-5.0 mg·kg-1.