Hydrazine determination in sludge samples by high-performance liquid chromatography

A relatively simple and cost-effective method utilizing HPLC with UV detection was developed to detect and quantify hydrazine in sludge samples. The method was developed primarily for sludge samples, but it can also be applicable to soil and other environmental samples. The hydrazines in the matrices were derivatized to hydrazones with benzaldehyde. The hydrazones were separated using HPLC with an RP C-18 column in an isocratic mode with methanol-water (95:5 v/v) and detected with UV detection at 313 nm. The detection limit (25 microL injection) for the method is 0.02 microg/mL of hydrazine.