Analytical Method for the Determination of Acrylonitrile in Rat Plasma at the Nanograms per Milliliter Level

A method Is described for the determination of acrylonitrlle (propenenitrlle, vinyl cyanide, AN) In rat plasma at the ng/mL level by gas chromatography (GC) utilizing a modified delayed Injection technique (DIT) and a nitrogen-phosphorus detector. The method was developed to determine the acrylonitrile plasma profile following administration of various dose levels of AN via different routes. A remote Injection apparatus was placed In-line with the purge gas to the precolumn of the DIT. Using this arrangement, matrix interferences In rat plasma samples normally Incurred during GC analysis were overcome, while a high sensitivity for acrylonltrlle was maintained. The ability to analyze 20-#L samples made serial kills unnecessary and duplicate Injections possible with an analysis time of approximately 10 mln/sample. The average detection limit for the entire study (3 x background) was 2.0 ng/mL.