Determination of Aliphatic Primary Amines by Flow Injection Fluorometry Using Beryllium-Schiff Base Complexes

Abstract

In an alkaline solution, aliphatic primary amines react with salicylaldehyde and beryllium(II) to form fluorescent Schiff base complexes. A flow injection fluorometry for the determination of aliphatic primary amines based on this reaction has been investigated. By using the established method, methylamine could be determined in the range of (6×10^-6-6×10^-3)mol dm^-3within a relative standard deviation of 3%. Ethylamine, 1-propylamine and 1-butylamine were determinable in the range of (3×10^-5-8×10^-3)mol dm^-3. With a flow rate of 0.4cm³ min^-1, 30 samples could be analyzed per hour. The proposed method was substantially inactive for secondary and tertiary amines, and was successfully applied to the determination of methylamine (0.007-0.008%) contained in commercial dimethylamine reagents.