• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.120-143
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• 2018

The analytical methods and their ambient levels of organic nitrogenous compounds such as nitrosamines, nitramines (nitroamines), imines, amides and nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) in the atmosphere are summarized and discussed. Sampling for the analysis of organic nitrogenous compounds was mostly conducted using high volume air sampler. The direct liquid extraction (DLE) using sonification and the pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) using the accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) have been frequently employed for the extraction of organic nitrogenous compounds in the atmospheric samples. After extraction, clean-up via filtration and the solid phase extraction (SPE) and concentrations using nitrogen and rotary evaporator have been generally conducted but in some studies the clean-up and concentration steps have been omitted to prevent the loss of analyte and improve the recovery rate of the analytical procedure. Instrumental analysis was mainly carried out using gas chromatography (GC) or the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with the single quadrupole mass spectrometer or tandem mass spectrometer in the electron ionization (EI), positive chemical ionization (PCI) and negative chemical ionization (NCI) mode and analysis sensitivity of nitrosamines and nitramines were higher in NCI mode. Desirable sampling and analysis methods for analyzing particulate organic nitrogenous compounds are suggested.