Application of chromatographic techniques in the analysis of total nitrosamines in water
Abdulrazaq Yahaya, Damilola Elizabeth Babatunde, Lamidi W. B. Olaniyan, Oluranti Agboola
Abstract
The use of ozone, chloramine and chlorine dioxide for water treatment results in the formation N-nitrosamines in the treated water. These groups of chemicals and other nitrogen-containing compounds have been described as disinfection by-products (DBPs) which are known for their toxicity. Nitrosamines are a potential source of nitric oxide (NO) which can bind with metals present in the sample matrix leading to formation of metal - nitrosyl complexes and dissolved metals have the potential to increase the total nitrosamines in water. This phenomenon has not received the desired attention and determination of metal-nitrosyl complexes lack standard analytical technique. Chromatography linked to various detectors is the commonest of the techniques for nitrosamine analysis but it is beset with reduced sensitivity as a result of inappropriate choice of the column. Incidentally, chromatographic techniques have not been really adapted for the analysis of metal-nitrosyl complexes. Therefore, there is need for the survey of existing techniques vis-à-vis metal-nitrosamine analysis and to suggest possible areas for method optimization.