Photometric assay of 1-naphthylamine by azo dye formation with diazotized sulfisomidine - application to waters

A simple and sensitive photometric method for the trace determination of 1-naphthylamine has been worked out. The method is based on the coupling reaction of the determinand in acidic medium with diazotized sulfisomidine, to form a purplish violet water-soluble mono azo dye that shows maximum absorption at 540 nm with a molar absorptivity of 4.47 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1). Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration range 5-70 mug of 1-naphthylamine in a final volume of 25 ml, i.e. 0.2-2.8 p.p.m. with a relative error of -0.7 to +1.7% and a relative standard deviation of 0.35-4.2%, depending on the concentration level. Moreover, the method does not require either temperature control or solvent extraction. Interferences due to foreign species have been examined. The developed method has been applied to the determination of 1-naphthylamine in river water and sea water.