Analysis of halogenated C1/C2-trace compounds in marine atmosphere.

Patterns of volatile ECD-active substances in marine air at the ultra trace level were investigated. The protocol used carbon based adsorbents, thermodesorption and thick film HRGC-ECD together with a second ECD in line with oxygen doped make-up gas. The latter ECD mode leads to an increased sensitivity for chloromethane. dichloromethane, and other important chlorinated substances with an otherwise low response at an ECD driven with oxygen-free nitrogen or argon/methane. The experimental set-up is easily to employ. Air samples were taken on two cruises of the German research vessel R/V "Polarstem" in the Atlantic Ocean to determine the background pattern of all volatile halocarbons from CF3Cl to CHI3 in marine air.