A rapid method for the semi-quantitative determination of volatile N-nitrosamines in alcoholic beverages

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Abstract
A method is described for the rapid extraction of N-nitrosamines from strong alcoholic drinks with methylene chloride after saturating the water-ethanol phase with magnesium perchlorate. The nitrosamines are then determined by oxidation to nitramines and clean-up of the oxidation products by adsorption chromatography on a column containing two layers of different grades of alumina, followed by gas chromatography with an electron-capture detector. The method is equally applicable to beverages with low alcohol content such as beer.