DETERMINATION OF ALIPHATIC AND AROMATIC-ALDEHYDES IN POLLUTED AIRS AS THEIR 2,4-DINITROPHENYLHYDRAZONES BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography system with a LiChrosorb RP-18 column and acetonitrile-water mobile phase has been applied to the determination of C1-C6 aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes in polluted airs such as urban air, industrial emission, auto exhaust, and tobacco smoke. The aldehydes in a sample were allowed to react with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine to form 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone derivatives. The derivatives were extracted with chloroform and concentrated. The residue in acetonitrile was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The derivatives of C1-C6 aliphatic aldehydes could be separated from the derivatives of the same molecular weight ketones, and aromatic aldehydes such as benzaldehyde, and isomers of tolualdehydes could be separated without effects of aliphatic carbonyl compounds. The aldehydes in the low ppm or ppb levels in air samples could be determined with good accuracy. © 1979, Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.