Fluorescence detection of some nitrosoamines in high-performance liquid chromatography after post-column reaction

A selective fluorescence detection method for the determination of some N-nitrosoamines after post-column reaction has been developed for reversed-phase liquid chromatography. The N-nitroso compounds are analyzed by allowing their hydrolysis products to react with the oxidizing species Ce4+ to produce the fluorescent ion Ce3+. The detection limit for this method is at the ppb (the American billion, 10(9)) level with a linear dynamic range of 2-3 orders of magnitude.