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Formation of N‐Nitrosodiethanolamine from Diethanolamine in Lake Water and Sewage
Author(s) -
Yordy Jerry R.,
Alexander Martin
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1981.00472425001000030002x
Subject(s) - diethanolamine , chemistry , nitrosamine , sewage , environmental chemistry , nitrite , amine gas treating , environmental engineering , environmental science , carcinogen , organic chemistry , nitrate
A thin‐layer chromatographic method using a 14 C‐labeled secondary amine was used to measure the possible formation of nitrosamines in samples of natural waters and sewage. The lower limit of sensitivity was 1 ng of nitrosamine/ml. Formation of N‐nitrosodiethanolamine from diethanolamine in lake water and sewage was demonstrated, with the identity of the product verified by combined gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. The greatest amount of the carcinogenic nitrosamine was generated in sewage, considerably less was produced in Caynga Lake water, and the least amount was formed in water from an acid lake. The amount of nitrosamine formed was related to the amount of diethanolamine added and the nitrite level in samples of the environments. Autoclaved samples of sewage and Cayuga Lake water either did not produce N‐nitrosodiethanolamine or formed it at rates much lower than in nonsterile samples, suggesting a role for microorganisms or some other heat‐labile factor in the formation of the nitroso compound. The nitrosamine could be metabolized in all three environments, but it persisted in lake water samples taken in the winter.