Analysis of primary and secondary aliphatic amines in waste water and surface water by gas chromatography mass spectrometry after derivatization with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene or benzenesulfonyl chloride

Two methods for the determination of aliphatic amines such as methylamine, dimethylamine, ethylamine, diethylamine, piperidine, pyrrolidine or morpholine in waste water and surface water at the sub-ppb level are presented. The methods are based on a derivatization of the amines within the aqueous medium with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene and benzenesulfonyl chloride, respectively. In both cases the derivatives are extracted with dichloromethane and measured by GC-MS. The performance data of the two methods are compared and the method which is based on the derivatization with benzenesulfonyl chloride is finally applied to industrial waste waters and surface waters in order to determine the rate of occurrence of aliphatic amines in the aquatic environment.