Determination of Aromatic Amines in Ground and Waste Water by Two New Derivatization Methods

Abstract

Two derivatization methods for aromatic amines are presented that are based on the halogenation of the aromatic ring. Bromination yields brominated anilines, in which all hydrogens in ortho- and para-positions are replaced by bromine via an electrophilic substitution. In contrast, iodination yields the corresponding iodobenzenes, in which all amino groups are substituted by iodine. Separation of at least 30 derivatives in a single gaschromatographic run in 30 min is possible with each method. Detection in routine analysis was done with an electron capture detector, but some findings with GC-MS and GC with atomic emission detection are also presented. Both methods were applied to real samples of different origin and the results are compared. In industrial wastewater and ground water from a landfill and a former ammunition plant, about 20 aromatic amines were found to be present in the μg/L concentration range. In the case of the former ammunition plant, most analytes observed were degradation products of nitroaromatic explosives. In both other cases aniline and methyl anilines were the main pollutants found.