Fast screening for adsorbable organically bound halogens

Organohalogen compounds are widespread, persistent, and potentially toxic for humans and the environment. However, the techniques commonly used to monitor adsorbable organic halogens (AOX) can only determine the sum of organically bound chlorine, bromine, and iodine. These techniques do not provide individual results for AOCl, AOBr, and AOI, respectively, nor on the organofluorine (AOF) content. The new DIN 38409-59 describes a validated method for comprehensive AOX analysis including AOF by combustion ion chromatography (CIC). Analysis by CIC allows the determination of the sum parameter as well as the individual concentrations of adsorbable organically bound fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine in different waters. Organic fluorinated compounds, such as PFASs (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in particular, can be easily monitored using non-target AOF analysis by CIC.