GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF ALDEHYDES IN COMBUSTION SMOKE SAMPLES

Gas chromatographic method for the determination of aliphatic and arom atic aldehydes in combustion smoke has been developed. After trapping of combustion smoke into dilute hydrochloric acid containing ascorbic acid with a laboratory-made smoking machine, aldehydes were converted into their thiazolidine derivatives by the reaction with cysteamine, a nd then measured by gas chromatography with flame photometric detectio n. The calibration curves for these aldehydes in the range 0.02-2.0 mu g were linear and the detection limits at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 were ca. 4-100 pg injected. Aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes in comb ustion smokes could be selectively determined by this method without a ny interference from coexisting substances. Overall recoveries of alde hydes added to cigarette smoke samples were 84-110%. Analytical result s for the contents of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes in combustion s mokes of various materials such as food, cigarette, wood and rubber we re presented. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.