Determination of pcb types and concentrations in industrial transformer oil samples

Abstract

This paper aims to present how the types and concentrations of PCBs contained in a sample of oil from high voltage industrial transformers can be determined. The chromatographic method (GC-ECD) was applied to determine the PCB concentrations in the collected oil sample. For the implementation of the GC-ECD method, an Agilent - 7890 gas chromatograph was used, equipped with a μECD detector (ionizing source: Ni63, A = 15 mCi) capable of ionizing and identifying the concentrations of chlorinated organic substances in the analyzed samples. The experimental program started by collecting an oil sample from an industrial transformer from the company ELEROM S.A., Neamt county, Romania and temporarily stored, for final disposal, in the dedicated storage facilities of the company SetCar S.A. Braila, Romania. The high PCB content in the oils from high-voltage industrial electrical equipment classifies them as hazardous waste with a negative impact on environmental factors and human health and must be managed according to the laws in force.