Colorimetric method for the determination of ethylene dibromide residues in grains and air

A method based on the hydrolytic debromination of ethylene dibromide (EDB) in the presence of an oxidizing agent has been developed. Bromine liberated from inorganic bromide is used to brominate p-rosaniline. The intensity of the resulting violet-red bromo compound in chloroform is measured at 580 nm. The relationship between absorbance and concentration of EDB is linear in the range of 5-60 mug. The method is very sensitive and as little as 0.50 ppm unchanged EDB residue in a 20 g sample of fumigated grain and 1 ppm EDB in a 10 ml air sample can be detected.