A procedure for the determination of ethanolamine in gaseous samples was pr
oposed. The ethanolamine from the sample was absorbed in a HCl solution (0.
1 mol.l(-1)) and the solution was; evaporated to dryness in a stream of ine
rt gas. Derivatizing agent (trifluoroacetic anhydride) was added to the eth
anolamine hydrochloride residue. After derivatization, excess of the deriva
tizing agent was extracted with an aqueous of ammonia. The resulting ethano
lamine derivative was analyzed by gas chromatography on a fused silica capi
llary column (1.25 mu m) poly(methylsiloxane)stationary phase. The detectio
n limit of 0.2 ng of ethanolamine was achieved.