| Abstract: | Three porous polymer adsorbents, Tenax-TA, Chromosorb 102, and Chromosorb 103 were investigated as potential gas phase, trapping agents for volatile N-nitrosamines using a thermal desorption injector coupled with a gas chromatograph-thermal energy analyzer. N-Nitrosodimethylamine was used as the model N-nitrosamine for determining break-through volume, the effect of temperature on retention volume, and collection efficiency at 25 degrees C for each adsorbent. Results from these three parameters indicated that Chromosorb 103 exhibited the best adsorbent characteristics for the pre-concentration of volatile N-nitrosamines. A mixture of three dialkyl N-nitrosamines (dimethyl, diethyl, and dipropyl), and N-nitrosopyrrolidine were analyzed using a high-temperature mineral oil purge and trap procedure. Recoveries ranged from 82.2 to 102.8% at levels of 10 and 100 ng of each N-nitrosamine added. |
