Analytical method for the determination of 2,4-dinitrotoluene, 2,6-dinitrotoluene and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

Translation of DGUV Information 213-567 (former BGI 505-67 or ZH1/120.67)

Chemical name IUPAC name Synonyms CAS Number
2,4-Dinitrotoluene 1-Methyl-2,4-dinitrobenzene 2,4-DNT 121-14-2
2,6-Dinitrotoluene 1-Methyl-2,6-dinitrobenzene 2,6-DNT 606-20-2
2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene 1-Methyl-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene 2,4,6-TNT 118-96-7
Dinitrotoluene (technical mixture of isomers)     25321-14-6

Method 01 – HPLC – limited suitability: category E1

Sampling with a pump and adsorption on a combined sample holder consisting of a quartz fibre filter and a Tenax adsorption tube; high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after elution.

This method permits the determination of concentrations of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT), 2,6-dinitrotoluene (2,6-DNT) and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (2,4,6-TNT) in working areas, averaged over the sampling time after personal or stationary sampling.

Principle

A pump is used to draw a measured volume of air through the combined sample holder, taking into account the definition of inhalable dust fraction. In the process, the particulate portions are deposited on a quartz filter and the vapour portions are adsorbed onto Tenax. The portions on the filter are eluted with methanol directly after sampling. The sampling and backup sections are also covered with methanol when the Tenax tube is processed during sample preparation. After the compounds are eluted by treatment in an ultrasonic bath, 2,4-DNT, 2,6-DNT and 2,4,6-TNT are determined by liquid chromatography.

Limit of quantification (LOQ)

Absolute: 1.5 ng 2,4-DNT and 2,6-DNT; 1 ng 2,4,6-TNT.

Relative: 0.005 mg/m3 2,4-DNT and 2,6-DNT for a 120-litre air sample, 2 mL elution solution and 5 µL injection volume; 0.007 mg/m3 2,4,6-TNT for a 120-litre air sample, 4 mL elution solution and 5 µL injection volume.

Issue

September 1999

The measuring method is of limited suitability (E1).

The complete measuring method is available in the Wiley Online Library: Method for the determination of 2,4-dinitrotoluene, 2,6-dinitrotoluene and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (Air Monitoring Methods, Volume 9, 2005, see dinitrotoluene (mixture of isomers)).

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