title: Detection and determination of N-nitrosamines by thin-layer chromatography using fluorescamine.
abstract: A novel procedure is described for the detection and determination of N-nitrosamines (NAs) on thin-layer chromatographic plates. Ultraviolet irradiation of NAs on activated plates (silica gel or aluminum oxide) yields primary or secondary amines, which after spraying with fluorescamine reagent give fluorescent or non-fluorescent products, respectively. The majority of the 24 NAs examined afforded NAs, although the volatile dimethyl-, diethyl- and pyrrolidine-N-nitrosamines gave limits of 500, 40, and 40 ng, respectively. Spectrophotometric determinations of the relative fluorescence of 0.1-40 nmoles of NAs gave rise to nearly linear calibration curves when plotted on a log-log scale.
mesh_terms: D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D005450:Fluorescamine; D005782:Gels; D008722:Methods; D009602:Nitrosamines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013141:Spiro Compounds; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D009602:Nitrosamines; D013141:Spiro Compounds; D005450:Fluorescamine; D012822:Silicon Dioxide