ANALYSIS OF N-NIFROSAMINES IN RUBBER AND VULCANIZATES - INFLUENCE OF INHIBITORS

N-nitrosamines (NA) are detected in rubber and vulcanizates by methano l extraction and subsequent detection employing GC-TEA. The use of asc orbic acid as an inhibitor oi nitrosation during extraction has a nega tive influence on the quality of the analysis. Interferences in the ch romatogram hinder the classification and determination of N-nitroso di methylamine (NDMA), N-nitroso diethylamine (NDEA) and N-nitroso diprop ylamine (NDPA). This work elucidates the mechanism of the ascorbic aci d disturbance. alpha-hydroxy acids decay at the temperature of the chr omatographic columns by generating CO which will give a signal like NO at the TEA-detector. The use of hydroquinone instead of ascorbic acid avoids these interferences. in this way the determination of NDMA, ND EA and NDPA is significantly improved.