The Determination of Organochlorine Pesticides in Sediment by Molecular Emission Cavity Analysis

Abstract
A rapid and convenient method is described for measuring the total organic chlorine content of sedimentary material fortified with organochlorine pesticides. The pesticides are extracted from the sediment, chlorine is then liberated as hydrogen chloride in a Schöniger flask, and the resulting aqueous solution is injected into an indium-lined MECA (Molecular Emission Cavity Analyzer) cavity. The MECA response to the InCl emission is used to determine the amount of halogen present. The study has included sediment samples spiked with between 5 and 25 ppm of p,p′-DDT, γ-BHC, and heptachlor, when the percentage recovery in each case is estimated to be greater than 95% with a similar value recorded for a mixture of all three insecticides.