Journal of Chromatography A, 1216 (2009) 364–375 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Chromatography A journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/chroma Review Environmental analysis of higher brominated diphenyl ethers and decabromodiphenyl ethane Amelie Kierkegaard ∗ , Ulla Sellstr ¨ om, Michael S. McLachlan Department of Applied Environmental Science (ITM), Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden article info Article history: Available online 28 May 2008 Keywords: Analysis BFR BDE209 Decabromodiphenyl ether Decabromodiphenyl ethane abstract Methods for environmental analysis of higher brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in particular decabro- modiphenyl ether (BDE209), and the recently discovered environmental contaminant decabromodiphenyl ethane (deBDethane) are reviewed. The extensive literature on analysis of BDE209 has identified several critical issues, including contamination of the sample, degradation of the analyte during sample prepa- ration and GC analysis, and the selection of appropriate detection methods and surrogate standards. The limited experience with the analysis of deBDethane suggests that there are many commonalities with BDE209. The experience garnered from the analysis of BDE209 over the last 15 years will greatly facilitate progress in the analysis of deBDethane. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Contents 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 365 2. Physical–chemical properties ....................................................................................................................... 365 2.1. Higher brominated BDEs .................................................................................................................... 365 2.2. DeBDethane ................................................................................................................................. 366 3. General aspects of the analysis ..................................................................................................................... 366 3.1. Higher brominated BDEs .................................................................................................................... 366 3.2. DeBDethane ................................................................................................................................. 366 4. Extraction methods ................................................................................................................................. 367 4.1. Higher brominated BDEs .................................................................................................................... 367 4.2. DeBDethane ................................................................................................................................. 367 5. Cleanup .............................................................................................................................................. 367 5.1. Higher brominated BDEs .................................................................................................................... 367 5.2. DeBDethane ................................................................................................................................. 368 6. Instrumental analysis ............................................................................................................................... 368 6.1. Separation ................................................................................................................................... 368 6.1.1. Higher brominated BDEs ........................................................................................................... 368 6.1.2. DeBDethane ........................................................................................................................ 369 6.2. Injection ..................................................................................................................................... 369 6.2.1. Higher brominated BDEs ........................................................................................................... 369 6.2.2. DeBDethane ........................................................................................................................ 370 6.3. Detection .................................................................................................................................... 370 6.3.1. Higher brominated BDEs ........................................................................................................... 370 6.3.2. DeBDethane ........................................................................................................................ 372 7. Identification ........................................................................................................................................ 372 7.1. Higher brominated BDEs ..................................................................................................................... 372 7.2. DeBDethane .................................................................................................................................. 373 ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +46 86747182. E-mail address: amelie.kierkegaard@itm.su.se (A. Kierkegaard). 0021-9673/$ – see front matter © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.chroma.2008.05.058