Static headspace preconcentration was developed for the gas chromatographic
analysis of aliphatic amines in aqueous samples. A liquid-gas ratio of 1,
an incubation temperature of 80 degrees C (15 min), a pH of 13.7 and a mixt
ure of salts (NaCl and K2SO4) at saturation concentration gave a maximal he
adspace amine concentration. C-1-C-4 volatile aliphatic amines were separat
ed on a specific PoraPLOT Amines capillary column. The detection limit was
0.2 mu g/l for secondary and tertiary amines using a nitrogen-phosphorus de
tector. Primary amines were detected at higher concentrations (from 10 mu g
/l to 3000 mu g/l). This polar capillary column required the systematic add
ition of ammonia to the sample (0.05 M concentration) in order to obtain a
good repeatability (RSD=0.6-6.4%). This technique has been applied successf
ully for the monitoring of amine concentration at sub-mu g/m(3) level in a
compost treatment plant using absorption sampling in a hydrochloric acid so
lution. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.