A novel capillary electrophoretic method for determining aliphatic aldehydes in food samples using 2-thiobarbituric acid derivatization

A novel electrophoretic method for sensitive determination of nine aldehydes, including formaldehyde (C1), acetaldehyde (C2), propanal (C3), butanal (C4), pentanal (C5), hexanal (C6), glutaradehyde (Gla), 2,3-butanedione (Bud) and methylgloxal (MGo) in food samples, has been developed based on CE with amperometric detection (CE-AD). After being derivatized with an electroactive compound, 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA), these nine non-electroactive aldehydes were converted to electroactive adducts, and therefore detectable by CE-AD approach. Experimental conditions of derivatization and CE-AD detection were optimized. The proposed method was validated according to International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) requirements, with recovery results ranging from 82.8 to 123.8%. Calibration plots of aliphatic aldehydes were linear (r2 ≥ 0.9901) in the concentration range from 0.083 to 15.0 mg/L. The LODs were between 0.008 and 0.074 mg/L. The proposed CE-AD method provides a reliable and sensitive quantitative evaluation for non-electroactive low-molecular-mass monoaldehydes and dialdehydes in real sample matrices by employing relatively simple and inexpensive instrument.     

Enthalpies of formation, bond dissociation energies, and molecular structures of the n-aldehydes (acetaldehyde, propanal, butanal, pentanal, hexanal, and heptanal) and their radicals

Aldehydes are important intermediates and products in a variety of combustion and gas-phase oxidation processes, such as in low-temperature combustion, in the atmosphere, and in interstellar media. Despite their importance, the enthalpies of formation and bond dissociation energies (BDEs) for the aldehydes are not accurately known. We have determined enthalpies of formation for acetaldehyde, propanal, and butanal from thermodynamic cycles, using experimentally measured reaction and formation enthalpies. All enthalpy values used for reference molecules and reactions were first verified to be accurate to within around 1 kcal mol-1 using high-level ab initio calculations. Enthalpies of formation were found to be -39.72 +/- 0.16 kcal mol-1 for acetaldehyde, -45.18 +/- 1.1 kcal mol-1 for propanal, and -49.27 +/- 0.16 kcal mol-1 for butanal. Enthalpies of formation for these three aldehydes, as well as for pentanal, hexanal, and heptanal, were calculated using the G3, G3B3, and CBS-APNO theoretical methods, in conjunction with bond-isodesmic work reactions. On the basis of the results of our thermodynamic cycles, theoretical calculations using isodesmic work reactions, and existing experimental measurements, we suggest that the best available formation enthalpies for the aldehydes acetaldehyde, propanal, butanal, pentanal, hexanal, and heptanal are -39.72, -45.18, -50.0, -54.61, -59.37, and -64.2 kcal mol-1, respectively. Our calculations also identify that the literature enthalpy of formation of crotonaldehyde is in error by as much as 1 kcal mol-1, and we suggest a value of -25.1 kcal mol-1, which we calculate using isodesmic work reactions. Bond energies for each of the bonds in the aldehydes up to pentanal were calculated at the CBS-APNO level. Analysis of the BDEs reveals the R-CH(2)CH=O to be the weakest bond in all aldehydes larger than acetaldehyde, due to formation of the resonantly stabilized vinoxy radical (vinyloxy radical/formyl methyl radical). It is proposed that the vinoxy radical as well as the more commonly considered formyl and acetyl radicals are important products of aldehyde combustion and oxidation, and the reaction pathways of the vinoxy, formyl, and acetyl radicals are discussed. Group additivity values for the carbon-oxygen-hydrogen groups common to the aldehydes are also determined. Internal rotor profiles and electrostatic potential surfaces are used to study the dipole induced dipole-dipole interaction in the synperiplanar conformation of propanal. It is proposed that the loss of this dipole-dipole interaction in RC(.-)HCH(2)CH=O radicals causes a ca. 1-2 kcal mol-1 decrease in the aldehyde C-H and C-C bond energies corresponding to RC(.-)HCH(2)CH=O radical formation.     

Headspace single-drop microextraction with in-drop derivatization for aldehyde analysis

A new technique, headspace single-drop microextraction (HS-SDME) with in-drop derivatization, was developed. Its feasibility was demonstrated by analysis of the model compounds, aldehydes in water. A hanging microliter drop of solvent containing the derivatization agent of O-2,3,4,5,6-(pentaflurobenzyl)hydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA) was shown to be an excellent extraction, concentration, and derivatization medium for headspace analysis of aldehydes by GC-MS. Using the microdrop solvent with PFBHA, acetaldehyde, propanal, butanal, hexanal, and heptanal in water were headspace extracted and simultaneously derivatized. The formed oximes in the microdrop were analyzed by GC-MS. HS-SDME and in-drop derivatization parameters (extraction solvent, extraction temperature, extraction time, stirring rate microdrop volume, and the headspace volume) and the method validations (linearity, precision, detection limit, and recovery) were studied. Compared to liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase microextraction, HS-SDME with in-drop derivatization is a simple, rapid, convenient, and inexpensive sample technique.     

Determination of carbonyl compounds in the atmosphere of charcoal plants by HPLC and UV detection

A chromatographic quantification method with two different mobile phases (elution conditions 1 and 2) was developed to determine carbonyl compounds (CCs) in air samples collected from charcoal production workplaces, using C18 cartridges coated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPHi). Several 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones (DNPHo) were separated and quantified using an HPLC system and UV detection. In 16 min, elution condition 1 successfully separated and quantified the DNPHo of 14 CC including acetaldehyde, acrolein, formaldehyde, and furfural, and estimated the sum of C4 isomers, butanal-isobutanal-butanone. This elution condition was able to resolve the pairs acrolein/furfural and propanone/propanal, which have been cited in the literature as difficult mixtures to be separated. The elution condition 2 allowed separation and quantification, in less than 30 min, of 13 out of the 17 CC listed above. This elution condition was also able to separate propanone from propanal and butanone from the other components of the C4 mixture. When the two mobile phases were used together, they allowed confirmation of the presence of the DNPHo in the real samples. Thus, both elution conditions have been shown to be appropriate to determine CC, in personal and stationary samples, collected in charcoal production plants.     

On-line analysis of diesel engine exhaust gases by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry

Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) has been used to analyse on-line and in real time the exhaust gas emissions from a Caterpillar 3304 diesel engine under different conditions of load (idle and 50% of rated load) and speed (910, 1500 and 2200 rpm) using three types of fuel: an ultra-low-sulphur diesel, a rapeseed methyl ester and gas oil. SIFT-MS analyses of the alkanes, alkenes and aromatic hydrocarbons in the headspace of these fuels were also performed, but the headspace of the rapeseed methyl ester consists mainly of methanol and a compound with the molecular formula C4H8O. The exhaust gases were analysed for NO and NO2 using O2+* reagent ions and for HNO2 using H3O+ reagent ions. The following aldehydes and ketones in the exhaust gases were quantified by using the combination of H3O+ and NO+ reagent ions: formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propenal, propanal, acetone, butanal, pentanal, butanone and pentanone. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and pentenal, all known respiratory irritants associated with sensitisation to asthma of workers exposed to diesel exhaust, are variously present within the range 100-2000 ppb. Hydrocarbons in the exhaust gases accessible to SIFT-MS analyses were also quantified as total concentrations of the various isomers of C3H4, C3H6, C4H6, C5H8, C5H10, C6H8, C6H10, C7H14, C6H6, C7H8, C8H10 and C9H12.     

Poly(allylamine) beads as selective sorbent for preconcentration of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis

Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in water were determined by preconcentration with poly(allylamine) beads, derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DPH) and analysis by HPLC. Poly(allylamine) beads (0.5 g) were used to adsorb formaldehyde and acetaldehyde at 1.2-150 microg l(-1) and 3.5-220 microg l(-1) from water (1 l). The concentration factor is 50 fold. The aldehydes were eluted and derivatized with 2 mM DPH in 0.5 M H2SO4 (10 ml). The time of analysis was 1 h. The detection limits (S/N=3) for formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were 0.6 and 2 microg l(-1), respectively.     

Simple and automatic determination of aldehydes and acetone in water by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

We describe a simple and automatic method to determine nine aldehydes and acetone simultaneously in water. This method is based on derivatization with 2,2,2-trifluoroethylhydrazine (TFEH) and consecutive headspace-solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Acetone-d(6) was used as the internal standard. Aldehydes and acetone in water reacted for 30 min at 40°C with TFEH in a headspace vial and the formed TFEH derivatives were simultaneously vaporized and adsorbed on polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene. Under the established condition, the method detection limit was 0.1-0.5 μg/L in 4 mL water and the relative standard deviation was less than 13% at concentrations of 0.25 and 0.05 mg/L. This method was applied to determine aldehydes and acetone in 5 mineral water and 114 surface water samples. All mineral water samples had detectable levels of methanal (24.0-61.8 μg/L), ethanal (57.7-110.9 μg/L), propanal (11.5-11.7 μg/L), butanal, pentanal (3.3-3.4 μg/L) and nonanal (0.3-0.4 μg/L). Methanal and ethanal were also detected in concentration range of 2.7-117.2 and 1.2-11.9 μg/L, respectively, in surface water of 114 monitoring sites in Korea.     

Polymer-mediated extraction of the fluorescent compounds derived by Hantzsch reaction with dimedone for the sensitive determination of aliphatic aldehydes in air

An extraction method based on the thermo-responsive precipitation of a water-soluble polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) [PNIPAAm], was applied to the concentration of dimedone (5,5-dimethylcycrohexane-1,3-dion) derivatives for the highly sensitive determination of aldehydes in air. Aliphatic aldehydes including formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propanal, 1-butanal, 1-heptanal, and 1-hexanal in air were well solubilized into the aqueous solution of dimedone and ammonium acetate by mixing the solution and air sample in a polyvinyl fluoride bag. Fluorescent derivatives of aldehydes that had formed by the Hantzsch reaction with dimedone were concentrated by polymer-mediated extraction. The recoveries of the fluorescent compounds increased with increasing the carbon number of aldehyde and were more than 80% for the derivatives from aldehydes having more than three carbon atoms under the optimal conditions. Microgram per m3 (sub-ppb) levels of the aliphatic aldehydes, propanal, 1-butanal, 1-heptanal, and 1-hexanal, in ambient air were successfully determined by HPLC separation with fluorometric detection. The sampling volume and time required were only 1l and 20 s, respectively.     

Detection of low molecular weight aldehydes in aqueous solution by membrane introduction mass spectrometry

Membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) is used to detect low molecular weight aldehydes in aqueous solutions. The best sensitivity was obtained by aqueous phase derivatization of aldehydes with O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)-hydroxylamine (PFBOA) and electron capture detection. This negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry procedure allowed the measurement of C(1)C(6) aldehydes at low concentrations in mixtures. The characteristic ion signals in the mass spectrum of the mixture were verified by examining the full mass spectra and product ion MS/MS spectra of the derivatives of individual aldehydes. A reaction scheme is proposed to explain the fragmentation pattern of the molecular anions (M(-.)) of the derivatives. The processes observed include loss of HF to form (MHF)(-.) ions which then competitively fragment by elimination of H(R)CN and NO(.) to produce ions of m/z 178 and (M-50)(-.), respectively. Multiple reaction monitoring was applied to establish the lower limits of detection. Formaldehyde could be detected without preconcentration at 1 ppb with S/N = 3/1. The detection limits of acetaldehyde, propanal and butanal were found to be 10 ppb and that of pentanal and hexanal were found to be 20 ppb. Response curves vs. concentration are linear in the ppb range. This method is not as readily applicable to the corresponding ketones.     

Rate constants for the gas‐phase reactions of a series of C3?C6 aldehydes with OH and NO3 radicals

By using relative rate methods, rate constants for the gas‐phase reactions of OH and NO₃ radicals with propanal, butanal, pentanal, and hexanal have been measured at 296 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure of air. By using methyl vinyl ketone as the reference compound, the rate constants obtained for the OH radical reactions (in units of 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹) were propanal, 20.2 ± 1.4; butanal, 24.7 ± 1.5; pentanal, 29.9 ± 1.9; and hexanal, 31.7 ± 1.5. By using methacrolein and 1‐butene as the reference compounds, the rate constants obtained for the NO₃ radical reactions (in units of 10⁻¹⁵ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹) were propanal, 7.1 ± 0.4; butanal, 11.2 ± 1.5; pentanal, 14.1 ± 1.6; and hexanal, 14.9 ± 1.3. The dominant tropospheric loss process for the aldehydes studied here is calculated to be by reaction with the OH radical, with calculated lifetimes of a few hours during daytime. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 79–84, 2000     

Highly sensitive and selective catalytic determination of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde

A highly sensitive, simple and selective kinetic method was developed for the determination of ultra-trace levels of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde based on their catalytic effect on the oxidation of N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPD) with hydrogen peroxide. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by tracing the formation of the red-colored oxidized product of DPD at 510nm, within 30s of mixing the reagents. The optimum reaction conditions were: 20mmolL(-1) DPD, 250mmolL(-1) H(2)O(2), 150mmolL(-1) phosphate, 150mmolL(-1) citrate and pH 6.60+/-0.05 at 25 degrees C. Following the recommended procedure, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde could be determined with linear calibration graphs up to 0.50 and 1.4microg mL(-1) and detection limits, based on the 3S(b)-criterion, of 0.015 and 0.035microg mL(-1), respectively. In addition, analytical data for other 10 aldehydes were also presented. The high sensitivity and selectivity of the proposed method allowed its successful application to rain water, mainstream smoke (MSS) and disposed tips of smoked cigarettes (DTSC). A sample aliquot was directly analyzed for its total water-soluble aldehyde content. A second sample aliquot was heated at 80 degrees C for 10min to expel acetaldehyde and the aliquot was analyzed for its content of other water-soluble aldehydes (expressed as formaldehyde equivalent), and acetaldehyde was determined by difference. The analytical results were in excellent agreements with those obtained following the standard HPLC method based on pre-column derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. Moreover, published catalytic-spectrophotometric methods for the determination of aldehydes were reviewed.     

Polymeric nitrile–palladium chloride complexes and their reaction with olefins

Polymers containing cyano groups connected to the polymeric chain by means of at least one methylene group adsorb palladium dichloride reversibly from its slightly acidic solutions and form surface complexes of the probable structure (? CH₂CN)₂? PdCl₂. These complexes can adsorb gaseous olefins; ethylene is consumed continuously, but adsorption of propylene and 1-butene reaches saturation. Additional ethylene can be added to the propylene or 1-butene adsorbate. Hydrolysis of the surface olefinic complexes yields aldehydes, the ethylene complex giving acetaldehyde and butanal, the mixed ethylene–1-butene complex giving acetaldehyde, butanal and hexanal.     

Chromatographic approaches for determination of low-molecular mass aldehydes in bio-oil

HPLC–UV and GC/MS determination of aldehydes in bio-oil were evaluated. HPLC–UV preceded by derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine allows separation and detection of bio-oil aldehydes, but the derivatization affected the bio-oil stability reducing their quantitative applicability. GC/MS determination of aldehydes was reached by derivatization with o-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl) hydroxylamine hydrochloride. Two approaches for this reaction were evaluated. The first: “in solution derivatization and head space extraction” and the second: “on fiber derivatization SPME”, the latter through an automatic procedure. Both sample treatments allows the quantification of most important aliphatic aldehydes in bio-oil, being the SPME approach more efficient. The aldehyde concentrations in bio-oil were ～2% formaldehyde, ～0.1% acetaldehyde and ～0.05% propionaldehyde.     

Simple derivatization of aldehydes with D-cysteine and their determination in beverages by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

We describe a simple derivatization method to determine aldehydes. This method is based on derivatization with D-cysteine and consecutive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The optimum derivatization conditions of aldehydes with D-cysteine were 10 min at 50°C and pH 7.0. The formed alkyl thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid derivatives were directly injected in LC-MS/MS. In the established condition, the method was used to detect eight aldehydes in beverages. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of the aldehydes were 0.2-1.9 μg L(-1) and 0.7-6.0 μg L(-1) and the relative standard deviation was less than 2.0% at concentrations of 0.1 mg L(-1) and 1.0 mg L(-1) with the exception of octanal. All the beverage samples had detectable levels of methanal (0.033-0.145 mg L(-1)), ethanal (0.085-2.12 mg L(-1)), propanal (ND to 0.250 mg L(-1)), butanal (ND to 0.003 mg L(-1)), pentanal (ND to 0.471 mg L(-1)), hexanal (ND to 0.805 mg L(-1)), heptanal (0.019-3.91 mg L(-1)) and octanal (0.029-0.118 mg L(-1)).     

Determination of volatile carbonyl compounds in clean air

Summary An improved analytical procedure has been developed for the detection of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone and other volatile carbonyls in clean air. For sampling, 2,4-dinitrophenyl-hydrazine (DNPH) coated silica gel cartridges were used. DNPH reacts with carbonyls and forms carbonyl hydrazones which are extracted with acetonitrile and subsequently separated by reversed phase HPLC. Sampling flow rates up to 3.5 l/min were tested. The quantification limit of the complete sampling and analytical procedure is 60 ng carbonyl which corresponds to a mixing ratio of 1 ppbv HCHO in a 45 l air sample taken during a sampling time of 13 min. Carbonyl mixing ratios down to 0.1 ppbv can be determined. The collection efficiency and the elution recovery range between 96 and 100%; the precision is ±5% for HCHO and ±4% for CH₃CHO at mixing ratios of 1 ppbv. This technique can also be applied for the determination of aldehydes and ketones in the aqueous phase, e.g. cloud and fog water. In this case, carbonyls were converted to hydrazones simply by mixing the aqueous sample with an acidified DNPH solution. After 40 min reaction time, the hydrazones were analysed by HPLC. The detection limit was 0.2 mol HCHO/l. Possible interference caused by ozone and NO₂ was eliminated by using KI filters connected in series with the DNPH-coated cartridges. The analytical procedure was tested at a mountain measuring station and proved to be a suitable method for monitoring carbonyl compounds in clean air.     

Separation and determination of carbonyl compounds in indoor air using two-step gradient capillary electrochromatography.

A method of two-step gradient capillary electrochromatography (CEC) was developed to measure 12 carbonyls (aldehydes and ketones) in indoor air samples. The carbonyls were derivatized with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) and then separated by a two-step gradient CEC on a C8 column. Effects of various instrumental conditions on the separation, including buffer concentration, organic modifiers, voltage, and cassette temperature, were investigated. The method detection limits for the 12 carbonyls ranged from 0.2 microg to 1.6 microg per sample and the recoveries were generally between 90 and 120%. A subset of 30 indoor air samples containing formaldehyde and acetaldehyde from 75 randomly selected homes in the city of Ottawa, Canada were measured using the CEC method. The concentrations of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in these indoor air samples ranged from 5.8 microg/m3 to 85 microg/m3, and from 4.4 microg/m3 to 38 microg/m3, respectively. The comparison between CEC and the traditional HPLC method shows a good agreement in measured values.     

Determination Of Formaldehyde And Acetaldehyde Associated To Atmospheric Aerosols By HPLC

Abstract

A rapid new analytical protocol was developed for the determination of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde associated to atmospheric particulate matter, at ng/m³ levels. The aerosols were collected on glass fiber filters (8″×10″) at face velocities ranging from 15 m/min to 23 m/min. Aliquots of 15.4 cm² were sonicated, for 20 min, with 5.0 mL of 0,01% 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH), 1 % phosphoric acid. The liquid phase was then filtered and the separation and quantification of the corresponding 2,4-dinitrophenylhidrazone (DNPHo) derivatives carried out by reverse phase HPLC. Acetonitrile:water (57:43, v/v) as mobile phase at 1.0 mL/min and absorbance detection at 350 nm and 365 nm for, respectively, formaldehyde-DNPHo (0.04 AUFS) and acetaldehyde-DNPHo (0.01 AUFS) were used. The precision for four different aliquots, from a 8″×10″ glass fiber filter, were under 0.04% for formaldehyde and 14.16 % for acetaldehyde. In Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were determined, respectively, in the range of 6.8 ng/m³ to 27.3 ng/m³ and 9.1 ng/m³ to 54.6 ng/m³.     

Air-sampling of aldehydes—Application to chromatographic determination of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde

Summary After a brief review of several methods described in the literature this paper discusses air-sampling on 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine-coated silica gel and identification requirements for aldehydes and ketones most commonly found in industrial pollution.Quantitative analysis of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde either by GC or by HPLC techniques is established using a dynamic system producing test atmospheres and compared with the usual colorimetric determinations.     

Spectrofluorimetric determination of formaldehyde in air after collection onto silica cartridges coated with Fluoral P

In the present work, a sensitive and selective fluorimetric method for formaldehyde determination in air samples is described. The method is based in the reaction between formaldehyde and Fluoral P producing 3,5-diacetyl-1,4-dihydrolutidine, which, when excited at 410 nm, emits fluorescence at 510 nm.The Fluoral P was prepared by the reaction of 0.3 ml of acetic acid, 0.2 ml of acetylacetone and 15.4 g of ammonium acetate. Then, the volume was completed to 100 ml with deionized water. The Fluoral P obtained, if stored under refrigeration in the dark, can be used, safely, for 60 days.The calibration curve obtained with concentrations of formaldehyde in the range of 12 to 192 ng ml⁻¹ (n=9) was Intensity=1.11C+0.06 (R²=0.9920). In the quantification of formaldehyde, air samples were passed at 1 l min⁻¹, during 120 min, through glass impingers containing 40 ml of Fluoral P, followed by direct fluorescence measuring, or through two SEP PAK silica cartridges, coated with Fluoral P. The cartridges were eluted with 10 ml of Fluoral P solution and quantified by spectrofluorimetry. Under these conditions, the detection limit (S/N=3) obtained was 2.0 ng ml⁻¹.The new methodology was validated by comparison with a well-known HPLC method in which formaldehyde was collected into SEP PAK C18 cartridges coated with 2,4 dinitrophenylhydrazine. The application of the t_95% test did not show significant differences between the HPLC and either fluorimetric methodologies.This method has been used in the determination of gas phase formaldehyde in both indoor and outdoor sites. For the indoor site, the measured concentrations were in the range of 9.0 to 67.7 μl l⁻¹, while for the outdoor site they were in the range of 16.8 to 38.8 μl l⁻¹. Further, due to the ease of handling in field studies, the SEP PAK cartridges coated with Fluoral P were used. The formaldehyde concentrations thus determined, in outdoor sites, were in the range of 2.09 to 25.1 μl l⁻¹. The main advantage of this analytical procedure is its selectivity for formaldehyde, without interferences from bisulfite and other aldehydes, especially acetaldehyde, and low blank level, resulting in low detection limits. In addition, very little sample preparation is required.     

Determination of carbonyl compounds in air by HPLC using on-line analyzed microcartridges,fluorescence and chemiluminescence detection

Summary Sensitive and selective detection of dansylhydrazones of atmospheric carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) can be achieved using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence or chemiluminescence detection. The carbonyl compounds are derivatized by drawing air through small glass cartridges packed with porous glass particles impregnated with dansylhydrazine. After sampling, the contents of the cartridges are analyzed on-line by using a small plug of water (200 L) to transfer and focus the hydrazone derivatives at the head of a HPLC column. Greatly increased sensitivity over traditional methods derives from 1) analysis of the entire contents of the sampling cartridge, and 2) detection by fluoresence or peroxyoxalate chemilum-inescence. Results are compared for photo-initiated and H₂O₂-initiated peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence. This novel and practical system enables the detection of sub-ppbv concentrations of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone and higher carbonyls in air using relatively short sampling times.