Influence of solvents and gas chromatographic injector conditions on the detectability of nitroaromatic compounds

We investigated the influence of four common solvents and of several liner packings of a split/splitless injector on the gas chromatographic behavior of trinitrotoluenes and related nitroaromatic compounds. The highest peaks are observed using toluene in combination with an empty liner or with a prepacked CarboFrit liner. In particular, the peaks of trinitrotoluene isomers and 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene significantly decreased or even totally disappeared when using quartz wool or glass wool, even when treated with dimethylchlorosilane. Similiar peak reductions are obtained with methanol or acetonitrile. Effects of decreasing peak are accompanied by the formation of two additional products when using methanol.