Trace analysis of amines and isocyanates using glass capillary gas chromatography and selective detection : I. Determination of aromatic amines as perfluoro fatty acid amides using electron-capture detection

A method for the trace analysis of aromatic amines is presented. It involved conversion of the amines into the corresponding amides by reaction with a perfluoro fatty acid anhydride. The amides were separated by glass capillary gas chromatography and quantitation was achieved using on-column injection and electron-capture detection. The method was applied to amines of interest from work environment health aspects. Detection limits were in the low picogram range. Columns suitable for this application and their preparation are discussed together with detector behaviour and the mass spectra of investigated perfluoro fatty acid amides.