DETERMINATION OF VOLATILE AMINES IN AIR BY DIFFUSIVE SAMPLING, THIOUREA FORMATION AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A diffusive sampling method for the determination of primary and secondary amines in air was evaluated. The sampler consists of a filter, impregnated with naphthyl isothiocyanate, in a polypropylene housing. A substituted thiourea is formed in situ during sampling, which is desorbed and determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The sampler was validated for the sampling of methylamine, allylamine, isopropylamine, n-butylamine and dimethylamine using standard amine atmospheres, and the uptake rates for the five amines were determined. The effect on uptake rate of amine concentration, sampling time and relative humidity was investigated and found to be small. The detection limits for the amines studied are below 50 mug/m3 for an 8-h sample.