Analysis of amines in petroleum

An analytical method for differentiation of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines using exhaustive trifluoroacetylation prior to GC/MS has been developed. Using the conditions described in the report, most primary amines add two and secondary amines add one trifluoroacetyl group. In general, tertiary amines do not react. GC retention indices and relative GC/MS total ion current response factors for 102 trifluoroacetyl derivatives are reported. Examples of the application of the method to petroleum and coal liquid products are provided. Because of the limited thermal stability of the derivatives of primary amines, the method is applicable only to distillates boiling below 370 °C (700 °F).