Gas‐liquid chromatographic determination of hydrazine in maleic hydrazide formulations and in samples stored at an elevated temperature

AbstractA method is described for the analysis of small amounts of hydrazine in maleic hydrazide formulations. Following derivative formation with pentafluorobenz‐aldehyde, the pentafluorobenzaldehyde azine was extracted with hexane and determined by gas‐liquid chromatography with electron‐capture detection. Recoveries of 72‐80% were obtained from samples fortified with 1 and 10 μg of hydrazine. The limit of detection was 0.05 mg kg−1. Fourteen commercial formulations with maleic hydrazide concentrations ranging from 180‐360 g litre−1 were investigated. The hydrazine content of the maleic hydrazide used in these formulations ranged from less than 0.05 to 53 mg kg−1. During the storage of two samples at 50°C for 10 weeks, the hydrazine contents increased from 2.2 to 124 and 0.4 to 54 mg litre−1, respectively.