Gas Chromatographic Determination of Trace Amounts of Hexamethylenetetramine in Water Using an Iodine Charge-Transfer Complex

Abstract

A highly sensitive gas chromatographic (GC) method for the determination of hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) in water was developed. HMT was quantitively extracted into CH₂Cl₂ forming a charge-transfer complex with iodine. The complex was decomposed by adding a methanolic KOH and liberated HMT was detected by GC equipped with a flame thermionic detector. The linear calibration curve of HMT was observed within the concentration range of 0.5-500μg/l in 100ml of the sample. The recovery efficiencies of HMT added to water at μg/l level were found to be 66-86% with relative standard deviation of 1.2-6.0%.