Gas chromatographic determination of primary and secondary amines as pentafluorobenzamide derivatives

An analytical method is described for the determination of mono- and dialkylamines in foodstuffs. Amines are derivatized to their pentafluorobenzamides which may be separated by gas chromatography (GC) and determined using an N-P detector. Analysis of the derivatives by GC-mass spectrometry indicated they were all mono-substituted. The amines were isolated from foodstuffs by alkaline distillation of greater than or equal to 75% sample volume. The distribution of dimethylamine (DMA) in distillate volumes indicated 2 maxima from barley and malt, which could represent 2 or more sources of DMA. DMA concentrations of 6.6-8.8 ppm in barley, 11 ppm in malt, and 1.2 ppm in beer are higher than previously reported.