Determination of N-n-alkyl-dimethylmorpholines and their metabolites by high resolution GC/MS

An analytical method is described to determine simultaneously cis/trans N-n-alkyl-dimethylmorpholines and their metabolites, the 4-(ω-carboxy-n-alkyl) cis/trans-2,6-dimethylmorpholines by pyrolytic alkylation and high resolution GC/MS in aqueous systems and sediments. The substances in the sediment phase were analyzed by GC/MS after extraction with methanol and water, substances in the water phase could be directly determined by GC/MS. The analytical procedure also allows the determination of further carboxylic acids in complex aqueous systems. Received: 9 April 1996 / Revised: 10 June 1996 / Accepted: 14 June 1996