Mass fragmentographic determination of pentachlorophenol in rainbow trout

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is extracted from selected tissues of rainbow trout and converted to pentachloroanisole (PCA) by means of alkylation in the presence of potassium carbonate as a condensing agent. Pentachlorophenetole (PPT) is used as an internal standard. The electron impact mass fragmentography is carried out by monitoring m/e 280 (PCA), 294 (PPT), and 237. A plot of peak height vs. concentration is linear from 0.03 to 4.0 ng. Accuracy and precision of the method is +/-2% (N - 36). The results are accurate enough to warrant the use of this method for determining PCP in fish, as well as for monitoring PCP from various environmental sources. In addition, this technique provides a simple and rapid method by which a mixture of PCA and PCP can be determined simultaneously.