The Determination of Carbonyl Compounds in Ozonated Water by the PFBOA Method

PFBOA, O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine, is excellent as a derivatizing agent in the GC determination of carbonyl compounds in ozonated water samples. Surface and waste waters have been ozonated. The carbonyl ozonation by-products were identified as PFBOA derivatives by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The main by-products of ozonation identified were formaldehyde, glyoxal, methylglyoxal, and 13 other compounds. The characteristics of the first three compounds with respect to production and decomposition during ozonation are discussed.