Simultaneous quantification of alkanolamines and their dehydrogenation products in aqueous samples using high-performance liquid chromatography with pre-column derivatization with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene.

Background: Diethanolamine, monoethanolamine, iminodiacetic acid, and glycine are important fine chemical intermediates, often requiring simultaneous quantitative analysis in various applications. This presents the challenge of accurately quantifying multiple substances within a single sample. The catalytic dehydrogenation of diethanolamine and monoethanolamine has garnered significant research interest, yet no analytical method has been reported for the simultaneous quantification of reactants and products in the dehydrogenation reaction mixtures of different alkanolamines.

Results: A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method has been developed for the simultaneous quantification of diethanolamine (DEA), iminodiacetic acid (IDA), glycine (Gly), and monoethanolamine (MEA) in aqueous solutions using 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) for pre-column derivatization. The method demonstrated excellent linearity, with correlation coefficients (R) of 0.9999, 0.9997, and 0.9998 for IDA, DEA, and Gly, respectively. The detection limits (LODs) were 0.02, 0.08, and 0.01 mg L, respectively. The quantification limits (LOQs) were 0.06, 0.24, and 0.03 mg L, respectively. Spiked recovery rates ranged from 96.99 % to 104.32 %, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) between 0.70 % and 3.03 %. For MEA and Gly, the R values were 0.9970 and 0.9990, the LODs were 0.12 and 0.01 mg L, the LOQs were 0.36 and 0.03 mg L, and spiked recoveries ranged from 96.24 % to 104.82 %, with RSDs between 1.22 % and 3.68 %. Compared to other methods, this HPLC approach offers superior sensitivity, accuracy, and precision.

Significance: This method provides a robust reference for the individual or simultaneous quantification of alkanolamines, glycine, and iminodiacetic acid in aqueous matrices. It offers new insights into the simultaneous analysis of alkanolamines with multiple organic acids in complex matrices. Additionally, the method can guide the optimization of catalytic dehydrogenation processes for alkanolamines, potentially extending the advantages of dehydrogenation catalysts to other reactions.