Alkanolamines – Method for the determination of 11 alkanolamines in workplace air using ion chromatography (IC)

This analytical method is a validated measurement procedure for the determination of 11 alkanolamines such as 2‐aminoethanol, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, 2‐amino‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanol, 2‐(dimethylamino)ethanol, 2‐(2‐aminoethoxy)ethanol, methyl diethanolamine, 4‐amino‐1‐butanol, (S)‐3‐amino‐1,2‐propanediol, 1‐amino‐2‐propanol and 2‐amino‐2‐methyl‐1,3‐propanediol in workplace air averaged over the sampling period after personal or stationary sampling. Sampling is performed by drawing a defined volume of air through a quartz fibre filter impregnated with methanesulfonic acid. The filter is positioned in a GSP sampling head which comply with the requirement of EN 481 for inhalable aerosols and EN 13936 for particle/vapour mixtures. After solvent extraction the sample solution is analysed by means of ion chromatography with a conductivity detector. The quantitative determination of the alkanolamines is based on calibration functions obtained by means of multiple‐point calibrations. The limit of quantification for an individual alkanolamine is in the range from 0.087 to 0.58 mg/m3.Joint Publication of the Analytical Subcommittee of the Chemistry Board of Experts of the Expert Committee Raw Materials and Chemical Industry of the German Social Accident Insurance and the working group “Air Analyses” of the Permanent Senate Commission of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area.