Determination of C1 – C5 Aldehydes in Ambient Air and Source Emissions as 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazones by HPLC

Formaldehyde, acrolein, and low molecular weight aldehydes are collected in 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine solution in two fritted impingers in series. The 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone derivatives (DNPH) are extracted, concentrated, and separated and quantitated by reversed phase HPLC. The DNPH derivatives of the C₁–C₅ aliphatic aldehydes are separated from the DNPH derivatives of the corresponding methyl ketones, and from the C₇ and C₈ aromatic aldehyde DNPH’s (1,2). The method is applicable to ambient air, industrial emissions, and auto exhaust (1).