Comprehensive supercritical fluid extraction/gas chromatographic analysis for organic compounds in soil matrices with an element-selective radiofrequency plasma detector

A coupled supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), high-speed gas chromatography (GC), and element-selective radiofrequency plasma detection (RPD) system was evaluated for the analysis of volatile organic compounds in soil matrices. The effect of GC carrier gas (carbon dioxide) and plasma reagent gas (oxygen) on the selectivity and sensitivity of the RPD was studied to establish the optimal operational conditions. The selectivities obtained were 3500 (Cl/C) for chlorine and 2600 (S/C) for sulfur. The detection limits were 24.8 and 9.2 pg s -1 for chlorine and sulfur, respectively. Complete quantitative analysis could be easily accomplished within 10 min