Rapid column method for determination of N-nitrosodimethylamine in malt

A rapid column elution method has been developed for the determination of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in malt. The average recovery of NDMA added to malt at the 10 ppb level was 87%. When a single malt sample was analyzed 10 times, the NDMA found averaged 8.1 ppb with a coefficient of variation of 3.93%. In a study of 15 malt samples, data obtained by the column elution method were in good agreement with those from a vacuum distillation method.