Direct Chromatographic Method for Determination of Hydrogen Cyanamide and Dicyandiamide in Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

Abstract A simple high‐performance liquid chromatographic method to separate and determine hydrogen cyanamide and dicyandiamide was developed. A reversed‐phase chromatographic system consisted of 100% purified water as a mobile phase and highly hydrophobic triacontyl (C30) stationary phase used at ambient temperature with UV detection at 200 nm. The linearity was excellent (R > 0.999) for both analytes, in the range of 500 ppb to 5000 ppm for cyanamide and 100 ppb to 100 ppm for dicyandiamide. Immediate formation of dicyandiamide was observed when dissolving pure cyanamide in water. Sample solvent appeared very important for successful component separation, as its variation may cause peak deterioration and loss of the stationary phase selectivity. The chromatographic procedure can also be employed to detect urea in the presence of cyanamide and dicyandiamide.