Derivatization of aromatic amines for analysis in ammunition wastewater .1. Derivatization via bromination of the aromatic ring

A new derivatization method for aromatic amines is presented based on the bromination of the aromatic ring system in an acetic acid medium to yield bromo derivatives. The derivatization method is very simple to perform and overcomes several problems common in the analysis of polar aromatic amines. The derivatives are easy to extract with pentane and can be separated with gas chromatography. Due to the introduction of the electron withdrawing bromo substituents sensitive detection using an electron capture detector is possible. The method was used to investigate the contents of amino- and aminonitrotoluenes in water samples from the site of a former ammunition plant.