Gas chromatographic head-space determination of residual acrylonitrile in acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resins and migration into a simulated fatty foodstuffs liquid.

Head-space methods are described for the determination of residual acrylonitrile in acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resins and in olive oil, which simulates fatty foodstuffs. Dimethylformamide was used as solvent for the resin, with flame ionization detection. The injection of water into the resin dispersion prior to head-space analysis greatly enhances the detection capabilities. The use of a nitrogen-selective detector required dimethyl sulphoxide as the solvent. The determination of acrylonitrile in olive oil was carried out employing both types of detector. The detection sensitivity was much greater with the nitrogen-selective detector.