Improvements in the detection and analysis of CF3-containing compounds in the background atmosphere by gas chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry

An improved method for the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of CF3-containing compounds in air is described. This method replaces a GS-Q porous layer open tubular (PLOT) column previously used with a 30 m×0.32 mm GS-GasPro PLOT column. For this exceedingly volatile set of compounds the GS-GasPro column provides improved peak shapes, better signal-to-noise responses and no coelution of compounds. These improvements have allowed eleven CF3-containing compounds to be detected in background air, including CF4 (FC 14), C2F6 (FC 116), CF3Cl (CFC 13), CF3H (HFC 23), CF3Br (Halon 1301), C3F8 (FC 218), CF3CF2Cl (CFC 115), CF3CHF2 (HFC 125), CF3CH3 (HFC 143a), CF3CH2F (HFC 134a), and CF3CFCl2 (CFC 114a). Three of these compounds have not been previously detected in background air, to our knowledge. Quantitative determinations for each of these compounds in the background atmosphere of Montana are also reported.