GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF TRACE AMOUNTS OF ALDEHYDES IN AUTOMOBILE EXHAUST BY A CYSTEAMINE DERIVATIZATION METHODS

Low-molecular-mass aldehydes present in automobile exhaust from vehicles with three different mileages were collected in a 1000-ml bottle and then determined as thiazolidine derivatives. Aldehydes were derivatized with cysteamine to the corresponding thiazolidines, which were subsequently determined using a gas chromatograph with a nitrogen-phosphorus detector. A car driven 50 000 km emitted high concentrations of formaldehyde (13.6 mu g/l) and acetaldehyde (6.6 mu g/l) and trace amounts of propionaldehyde, isobutyraldehyde, butyraldehyde, pentanal and benzaldehyde. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were also found in the exhaust from a car driven 20 000 km at levels of 4.33 and 1.32 mu g/l, respectively. On the other hand, a car driven 5000 km did not emit any aldehydes.