Sampling and analytical determination of airborne N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine.

A method has been developed for the collection on a reactive surface and subsequent analytical determination of airborne N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine (DMCA). DMCA from ambient or test atmosphere is collected on a Tenax sorbent sample tube treated with hydrochloric acid (HCl) using a low flow, personal sampling pump. The Tenax sorbent sample tube is desorbed with tetrahydrofuran (THF) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and the resulting solution is analyzed on a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) using selected ion monitor. The peak areas for ions 84 and 127 are integrated and compared to standards. It is shown that collected samples are stable at room temperature for more than 50 days. This method was proven in the laboratory using concentrations in air from 1.0 ppm to 4.1 ppm.