(in German)

The working group "Air Analyses" of the German Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area (MAK Commission) developed and verified the presented analytical method. This analytical method is a validated measurement procedure for the determination of N,N-dimethylethylamine [598-56-1], N,N-dimethylisopropylamine [996-35-0], N,N-dimethyl-n-propylamine [926-63-6] and triethylamine [121-44-8] in workplace air. The concentration ranges cover one tenth up to twice the currently valid occupational exposure limit values in Germany (OELV) of 6.1 mg/m3 for N,N-dimethylethylamine, of 3.6 mg/m3 for N,N-dimethylisopropylamine and of 4.2 mg/m³ for triethylamine. For N,N-dimethyl-n-propylamine the same OELV as for trimethylamine was anticipated. For sampling, a defined volume of air is drawn through an acid-impregnated quartz fibre filter. The flow rate is set to 0.5 l/min and sampling duration is 2 hours (which corresponds to a sampling volume of 60 l). The amines are extracted with 10 mM methanesulfonic acid solution and subsequently analysed using ion chromatography with conductivity detection. The quantitative determination is based on a cubic calibration function. The limits of quantification are between 0.022 and 0.047 mg/m³ based on an air sample volume of 60 l and an extraction volume of 10 ml. The recoveries are between 77 and 86%. The expanded uncertainties for the validation range are between 13.2 and 16.8%.

Please download the article "MAK Commission: Amines - Determination of N,N-dimethylethylamine, N,N-dimethylisopropylamine, N,N-dimethyl-n-propylamine and triethylamine in workplace air using ion chromatography (IC)" (in German).