Abstract
All seven Halowax formulations examined were contaminated with chlorophenols (CPhs). The total CPhs content of the CN mixtures ranged from 1050 to 34,200 ng/g. The absolute concentration of CPhs decreased with an increase of degree of chlorination (% Cl) of the Halowax 1031 (27%), 1000 (35%), 1001 (49%), and 1099 (51%), respectively, but remained relatively constant for higher chlorinated Halowax 1099 (51%), 1013 (54%), 1014 (59%), and 1051 (70%). 2,4,6-TrCPh and 2,4-DiCPh did contaminated all seven Halowax formulations and PeCPh remained undetected (<90 ng/g) only in Halowax 1099, while less frequently occurred 2,6-DiCPh and followed by 3-/4-MoCPh, 2,5-DiCPh, 2-MoCPh, 2,3-DiCPh, and 2,3,4,6-TeCPh. The CPh congeners such as 3,4-DiCPh, 3,5-DiCPh, 2,3,4-TrCPh, 2,3,5-TrCPh, 2,3,6-TrCPh, 2,4,5-TrCPh, 3,4,5-TrCPh, 2,3,4,5-TeCPh, and 2,3,5,6-TeCPh were undetected in any of the Halowax formulation examined. The profile (%) of higher chlorinated CPh homologues like PeCPh in the Halowaxes followed somehow a degree of chlorination (Cl %) of the parent mixture, i.e., increased from 14, 22, 43, 55, 52 to 80%, respectively, but exception was free of PeCPh the Halowax 1099. And contrary, for a lower chlorinated DiCPhs and TrCPhs their relative proportions decreased but again an exception was Halowax 1099. The fingerprint profiles of 2,4,6-TrCPh, 2,4-DiCPh, and PeCPh, which were usually the most abundant congeners varied and were less consisted when compared to the CPh homologue group profiles, and also more depended on the type of technical Halowax mixture. Due to absence of 2,4,5-TrCPh but presence of 2,4-DiCPh, 2,6-DiCPh, 2,4,6-TrCPh, and PeCPh, which, respectively, are indicative congeners for CPhs obtained by alkaline hydrolysis of chlorobenzenes or phenol chlorination using gaseous chlorine, just co-occurrence of phenol impurity in technical naphthalene is suggested as a solely source of CPhs in the Halowax mixtures.