Determination of organochlorine compounds in arsenic trichloride obtained from organoarsenic compounds by gas chromatography mass spectrometry

Volatile impurities in arsenic trichloride obtained by chlorinating organoarsenic compounds were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with the aim of investigating the deep purification of arsenic trichloride and developing highly sensitive procedures for the determination of volatile impurities. This study was performed with the use of a Hewlett Packard gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system based on an HP 5971 quadrupole analyzer and an HP 5890 gas chromatograph. It was found that, in addition to chlorinated hydrocarbons, organoarsenic compounds are also present as impurities. Mass spectra of the identified compounds, are given; the corresponding data are not available in the reference literature.