Performance of a Gas Chromatographic-Matrix Isolation-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer

The unique matrix-isolated (MI) Fourier transform infrared spectra of diethyl ether, propanal, and trifluoromethane are compared with their vapor-phase spectra. The marked increase in resolution seen in the MI spectra is accompanied by substantial frequency shifts from the peaks in the vapor-phase spectra. The spectra were generated with a gas chromatographic/matrix isolation/Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, with the use of frozen Ar at 13 K as the isolating matrix. The spectra of the 22 isomers of tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin show that each isomer can be distinguished and quantitated at the nanogram level. In addition, preliminary quantitative data were obtained for the pesticides Terbufos® and Fonofos®. Finally, a problem with a previously published spectrum of C-13 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin was uncovered, and it was shown that the spectrum was actually that of C-13 2,3,7-trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.