Method of measuring the N-nitrosoamine content of a sample

Claim 1

A method of measuring the content in a sample of compounds having the general formula: ##EQU1## wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different organic radicals, including those radicals which together constitute with the non-nitroso N of the depicted N--NO bond a nitrogen heterocyclic radical, and wherein the N--NO bond is the weakest bond in the molecule, comprising the steps of: a. heating the sample to provide an amount of thermal energy effective to break the N--NO bond and ineffective to break other molecular bonds in any substantial number for selectively liberating nitric oxide (NO), said heating step being the sole energization step for breaking molecular bonds; and b. measuring in the gaseous phase the amount of nitric oxide (NO) liberated by said heating step.

Claim 2

A method of measuring the content in a sample of compounds having the general formula: ##EQU1## wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different organic radicals, including those radicals which together constitute with the non-nitroso N of the depicted N--NO bond a nitrogen heterocyclic radical, and wherein the N--NO bond is the weakest bond in the molecule, comprising the steps of: a. heating the sample to provide an amount of thermal energy effective to break the N--NO bond and ineffective to break other molecular bonds in any substantial number for selectively liberating nitric oxide (NO), said heating step being the sole energization step for breaking molecular bonds; and b. measuring in the gaseous phase the amount of nitric oxide (NO) liberated by said heating step.

Claim 8

A method of measuring the content in a sample of compounds having the general formula: ##STR4## wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different organic radicals, including those radicals which together constitute with the non-nitroso N of the depicted N--NO bond a nitrogen heterocyclic radical, and wherein the N--NO bond is the weakest bond in the molecule, comprising the steps of: a. heating said sample to a temperature from 100°C to about 300°C to provide an amount of thermal energy sufficient to break the N--NO bond and insufficient to break other molecular bonds in any substantial number, said heating step being the sole energization step for breaking molecular bonds, thereby to selectively liberate nitric oxide (NO) gas; and b. measuring in the gaseous phase the amount of nitric oxide (NO) liberated by said heating step.

Claim 9

A method of measuring the content in a sample of compounds having the general formula: ##STR4## wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different organic radicals, including those radicals which together constitute with the non-nitroso N of the depicted N--NO bond a nitrogen heterocyclic radical, and wherein the N--NO bond is the weakest bond in the molecule, comprising the steps of: a. heating said sample to a temperature from 100°C to about 300°C to provide an amount of thermal energy sufficient to break the N--NO bond and insufficient to break other molecular bonds in any substantial number, said heating step being the sole energization step for breaking molecular bonds, thereby to selectively liberate nitric oxide (NO) gas; and b. measuring in the gaseous phase the amount of nitric oxide (NO) liberated by said heating step.

Claim 14

A method of measuring the content in a sample, wherein said sample is in a gaseous form, of compounds having the general formula: ##STR6## wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different organic radicals, including those radicals which together constitute with the non-nitroso N of the depicted N--NO bond a nitrogen heterocyclic radical, and wherein the N--NO bond is the weakest bond in the molecule, comprising the steps of: a. breaking the N--NO bond by heating said sample in a reaction chamber heated to a temperature from 200°C to about 300°C to cause said sample to liberate nitric oxide (NO) gas; and b. measuring in the gaseous phase the amount of said nitric oxide (NO) gas liberated by said breaking step by reacting said nitric oxide (NO) gas with ozone (O 3 ) gas and by measuring the intensity of the chemiluminescent emission resulting from said reaction to provide a direct and immediate measurement of the content of said compounds in said sample.

Claim 15

A method of measuring the content in a sample, wherein said sample is in a gaseous form, of compounds having the general formula: ##STR6## wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different organic radicals, including those radicals which together constitute with the non-nitroso N of the depicted N--NO bond a nitrogen heterocyclic radical, and wherein the N--NO bond is the weakest bond in the molecule, comprising the steps of: a. breaking the N--NO bond by heating said sample in a reaction chamber heated to a temperature from 200°C to about 300°C to cause said sample to liberate nitric oxide (NO) gas; and b. measuring in the gaseous phase the amount of said nitric oxide (NO) gas liberated by said breaking step by reacting said nitric oxide (NO) gas with ozone (O 3 ) gas and by measuring the intensity of the chemiluminescent emission resulting from said reaction to provide a direct and immediate measurement of the content of said compounds in said sample.

Claim 16

A method of measuring the content in a sample of compounds having the general formula: ##STR7## wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different organic radicals, including those radicals which together constitue with the non-nitroso N of the depicted N--NO bond a nitrogen heterocyclic radical, and wherein the N--NO bond is the weakest bond in the molecule, comprising the steps of: a. flash vaporizing the sample at a temperature from 200°C to about 300°C for approximately instantaneously breaking the N--NO bond while providing a level of thermal energy to the sample insufficient to break other molecular bonds thereby selectively liberating nitric oxide (NO) gas; and b. measuring in the gaseous phase the amount of nitric oxide (NO) liberated by said breaking step.

Claim 17

A method of measuring the content in a sample of compounds having the general formula: ##STR7## wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different organic radicals, including those radicals which together constitue with the non-nitroso N of the depicted N--NO bond a nitrogen heterocyclic radical, and wherein the N--NO bond is the weakest bond in the molecule, comprising the steps of: a. flash vaporizing the sample at a temperature from 200°C to about 300°C for approximately instantaneously breaking the N--NO bond while providing a level of thermal energy to the sample insufficient to break other molecular bonds thereby selectively liberating nitric oxide (NO) gas; and b. measuring in the gaseous phase the amount of nitric oxide (NO) liberated by said breaking step.

Claim 19

A method of measuring in a sample the content of compounds selected from the group consisting of: N-nitrosodimethylamine N-nitrosopiperidine N-nitrosodiamylamine N-nitrosomethylurea N-nitroso-N-methylurethane N-nitrosoethylurea Ethyl-N-nitrososarcosinate Diphenylnitrosoamine Phenylnitrosourea N-nitrosodibutylamine N-nitroso-N-ethylaniline N-nitrosodiacetylamine N-nitrosodibenzylamine and mixtures thereof comprising the steps of: a. heating the sample at a temperature from 100°C to about 300°C for providing an amount of thermal energy sufficient to break the N--NO bond and insufficient to break other molecular bonds in any substantial number, said heating step being the sole energization step for breaking molecular bonds, thereby to selectively liberate nitric oxide (NO) gas; b. measuring in the gaseous phase the amount of nitric oxide (NO) liberated by said heating step.

Claim 20

A method of measuring in a sample the content of compounds selected from the group consisting of: N-nitrosodimethylamine N-nitrosopiperidine N-nitrosodiamylamine N-nitrosomethylurea N-nitroso-N-methylurethane N-nitrosoethylurea Ethyl-N-nitrososarcosinate Diphenylnitrosoamine Phenylnitrosourea N-nitrosodibutylamine N-nitroso-N-ethylaniline N-nitrosodiacetylamine N-nitrosodibenzylamine and mixtures thereof comprising the steps of: a. heating the sample at a temperature from 100°C to about 300°C for providing an amount of thermal energy sufficient to break the N--NO bond and insufficient to break other molecular bonds in any substantial number, said heating step being the sole energization step for breaking molecular bonds, thereby to selectively liberate nitric oxide (NO) gas; b. measuring in the gaseous phase the amount of nitric oxide (NO) liberated by said heating step.

Claim 24

A method of measuring in a sample the content of compounds selected from the group consisting of: N-nitrosodimethylamine N-nitrosopiperidine N-nitrosodiamylamine N-nitrosomethylurea N-nitroso-N-methylurethane N-nitrosoethylurea Ethyl-N-nitrososarcosinate Diphenylnitrosoamine Phenylnitrosourea N-nitrosodibutylamine N-nitroso-N-ethylaniline N-nitrosodiacetylamine N-nitrosodibenzylamine and mixtures thereof, comprising the steps of: a. breaking the N--NO bond in said compounds by heating said sample to a temperature from 200°C to about 300°C for selectively liberating nitric oxide (NO); and b. measuring in the gaseous phase the amount of said nitric oxide (NO) liberated by said breaking step by reacting said nitric oxide (NO) with ozone (O 3 ) and by measuring the intensity of the chemiluminescent emission resulting from said reaction to provide a direct and immediate measurement of the content of said compounds in said sample.

Claim 25

A method of measuring in a sample the content of compounds selected from the group consisting of: N-nitrosodimethylamine N-nitrosopiperidine N-nitrosodiamylamine N-nitrosomethylurea N-nitroso-N-methylurethane N-nitrosoethylurea Ethyl-N-nitrososarcosinate Diphenylnitrosoamine Phenylnitrosourea N-nitrosodibutylamine N-nitroso-N-ethylaniline N-nitrosodiacetylamine N-nitrosodibenzylamine and mixtures thereof, comprising the steps of: a. breaking the N--NO bond in said compounds by heating said sample to a temperature from 200°C to about 300°C for selectively liberating nitric oxide (NO); and b. measuring in the gaseous phase the amount of said nitric oxide (NO) liberated by said breaking step by reacting said nitric oxide (NO) with ozone (O 3 ) and by measuring the intensity of the chemiluminescent emission resulting from said reaction to provide a direct and immediate measurement of the content of said compounds in said sample.

Claim 30

A method of measuring the N-nitrosoamine content of a sample, wherein the N-nitrosoamines have the general formula: ##STR8## wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different organic radicals, including those radicals which together constitute with the non-nitroso N of the depicted N--NO bond a nitrogen heterocyclic radical, and wherein the N--NO bond is the weakest bond in the molecule, comprising the steps of: a. breaking the N--NO bond by exposing the N-nitrosoamine molecule to a high intensity electrical field for adding to the N-nitrosoamine molecule an amount of energy sufficient to liberate the nitric oxide (NO); and b. measuring the amount of nitric oxide liberated by said breaking step.

Claim 31

A method of measuring the N-nitrosoamine content of a sample, wherein the N-nitrosoamines have the general formula: ##STR8## wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different organic radicals, including those radicals which together constitute with the non-nitroso N of the depicted N--NO bond a nitrogen heterocyclic radical, and wherein the N--NO bond is the weakest bond in the molecule, comprising the steps of: a. breaking the N--NO bond by exposing the N-nitrosoamine molecule to a high intensity electrical field for adding to the N-nitrosoamine molecule an amount of energy sufficient to liberate the nitric oxide (NO); and b. measuring the amount of nitric oxide liberated by said breaking step.

Claim 32

A method of measuring the N-nitrosoamine content of a sample, wherein the N-nitrosoamines have the general formula: ##STR9## wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different organic radicals, including those radicals which together constitute with the non-nitroso N of the depicted N--NO bond a nitrogen heterocyclic radical, and wherein the N--NO bond is the weakest bond in the molecule, comprising the steps of: a. breaking the N-NO bond by exposing the N-nitrosoamine molecule to microwave energy for adding to the N-nitrosoamine molecule an amount of energy sufficient to liberate the nitric oxide (NO); and b. measuring the amount of nitric oxide (NO) liberated by said breaking step.

Claim 33

A method of measuring the N-nitrosoamine content of a sample, wherein the N-nitrosoamines have the general formula: ##STR9## wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different organic radicals, including those radicals which together constitute with the non-nitroso N of the depicted N--NO bond a nitrogen heterocyclic radical, and wherein the N--NO bond is the weakest bond in the molecule, comprising the steps of: a. breaking the N-NO bond by exposing the N-nitrosoamine molecule to microwave energy for adding to the N-nitrosoamine molecule an amount of energy sufficient to liberate the nitric oxide (NO); and b. measuring the amount of nitric oxide (NO) liberated by said breaking step.