[Development and validation of high-performance liquid chromatography methodology for quantify determination of azodicarbonamide in the workplace air].

Abstract

Background: Occupational exposure to azodicarbonamide (ADCA) can occur via the respiratory tract or through skin in workplaces, e.g., in the production of plastics and rubber where it is used as a foaming agent or a porosity-increasing agent. Due to the irritant nature of ADCA on the respiratory tract, a concentration limit for it in workplace air has been established. This article presents a method for determining this substance in air.

Material and methods: The determination method consists of the following steps: passing air containing ADCA through a glass fiber filter, extracting the substance adsorbed on the filter with acetonitrile, adding 1-naphthyl isothiocyanate and analyzing the obtained derivative using liquid chromatography. The studies were performed using an Agilent Technologies 1200 series chromatograph with a diode array detector at an analytical wavelength of 220 nm and an Ultra C18 column with a length of 25 cm and a diameter of 4.6 mm.

Results: The method is linear (r = 0.9998) in the working range of 0.08-1.6 μg/ml. This range, for an air sample of 360 l, allows for the determination of 0.002-0.04 mg of ADCA per cubic meter of air. The instrument detection limit was 0.03 ng/ml, and the instrument quantification limit was 0.10 ng/ml.

Conclusions: The obtained values, including precision and expanded uncertainty for measurements, meet the requirements of the European standard PN-EN 482. The usefulness of the method for estimating workers' inhalation exposure to ADCA was confirmed. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2026;77(2):137-146.