AbstractDue to their high polarity and unique selectivity, cyanopropyl silicones are basic stationary phases for high resolution capillary gas chromatography. Different OH‐terminated cyanopropyl silicones, containing a high cyanopropyl content, were synthesized and chromatographically evaluated. Special attention was paid to the degree of immobilization of the phases in FSOT columns. Depending on the problem at hand, a choice has to be made between immobilization and maximum selectivity.

A simple method is described for the quantitative determination of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) in water at the sub ppb level. A micro gas-phase extractor advantageously replaces other preconcentration and purification techniques. The extract is analysed by capillary gas chromatography without further enrichment. The recovery at the ppb level was nearly 100% for organochlorine pesticides and more than 80% for PCB’s. The total procedure including sample preparation, steam distillation-extraction and capillary gas chromatographic analysis is carried out in less than four hours.