The determination of acrylamide in water by using electron-capture gas chromatography

Abstract

A method is described for the determination of residual acrylamide in water at levels likely to arise from the use of acrylamide polymers and copolymers in water treatment. After bromination of the sample, the α,β-dibromopropionamide obtained is extracted with diethyl ether and the extract analysed by electron-capture gas chromatography. Replicate samples of acrylamide added to River Thames water at concentrations of 500, 50, 5 and 0·25 µg 1^–1 were analysed with relative standard deviations of ±5, ±5, ±9 and ±10 per cent., respectively.

A detection limit of 0·1 µg 1^–1 of acrylamide was achieved with River Thames water and 0·25 µg 1^–1 was determined with a relative standard deviation of ±10 per cent. Yields of α, β-dibromopropionamide vary with water quality, ultraviolet light intensity and other reaction conditions. To overcome effects caused by these variables, when present, an internal standardisation procedure is used. The detection limit in River Thames water remained at 0·1 µg 1^–1 but with this procedure 0·25 µg 1^–1 was determined with a relative standard deviation of ±20 per cent.