Determination of aliphatic amines using N-succinimidyl benzoate as a new derivatization reagent in gas chromatography combined with solid-phase microextraction

A simple, selective and sensitive approach was developed for the quantitation of aliphatic amines in lake water applying a new reagent (N-succinimidyl benzoate, SIBA), synthesized in the laboratory of the authors. Derivatization of the n-C1–C6 aliphatic monoamines and dimethylamine in aqueous solution with SIBA was followed by headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME). Derivatives were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and determined by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection. Both derivatization and SPME conditions have been optimized. Derivatizations were performed in borate buffer (pH 8.8), at 60 °C for 22 min. SPME was carried out from saturated sodium chloride solution, at 80 °C for 60 min, desorption at 250 °C for 2 min. Detection limit of derivatized amines proved to be 0.13–7.2 nmol/l, while recovery of amines from lake water samples, in the concentration range of 100–200 μg/l, varied from 94.1 to 102.7%.