Ionic liquids with herbicidal anions

Ionic liquids with herbicidal anions (named herbicidal ionic liquids—HILs) were synthesized and characterized. The combination of two active chemicals as the [cation][anion] form in a single moiety reduced the number of additional chemicals required per application. HILs ([cation][MCPA]) exhibited higher biological activity than currently used salts of MCPA, and involved pesticides of a multidirectional activity ([plant growth regulator][MCPA]). Acute toxicity of HILs could be controlled by appropriate selection of cation type. These salts had chemical and thermal stability, and showed substantially lower water solubility than starting herbicides, thus reducing soil and groundwater mobility.     

Detection of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid by Microtiter Particle Agglutination Inhibition Test and Polarisation Fluoroimmunoassay

Abstract

A simple microtiter particle agglutination inhibition (MPAI) assay for detection of 2,4-dichlorphenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) has been developed on the basis of coloured polyacrolein latex particles sensitized with monoclonal antibodies to 2,4-D. MPAI test has been applied to the quantification of 2,4-D in water and extracts from grain and compared with the polarisation fluoroimmunoassay. The detection limit of 2,4-dichlorphenoxyacetic acid in MPAI was 0.6 μg/1 which was about two orders higher than that of polarisation fluoroimmunoassay. The cross-reactivity of various structurally related substances was less than 10.%. Good correlation of MPAI and polarisation fluoroimmunoassay was shown when testing 2,4-D in the extracts from grain. MPAI assay is rapid, robust, easy to perform, doesn't need any instrumentation and specially trained personnel.     

Two-dimensional electrophoresis of Cereus peruvianus (Cactaceae) callus tissue proteins

Two-dimensional electrophoresis of Cereus peruvianus callus tissues grown in culture media containing two different 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and kinetin combinations was used to identify minor differences in polypeptide composition of these cell clones. Altered expression during growth in the two 2,4-D and kinetin combinations was apparent for 13 polypeptides when calluses in the two media were compared. The number of proteins with differential expression (presence or absence of specific spots) was higher in callus tissues cultured in the 4.0 mg/L 2,4-D and 8.0 mg/L kinetin combination than in callus tissues cultured in the 4.0 mg/L 2,4-D and 4.0 mg/L kinetin combination. The present results show that the callus tissues maintained at 4.0 mg/L 2,4-D and 8.0 mg/L kinetin can be used as a matrix for in vitro selection programs.     

Disposable multichannel immunosensors for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid using acetylcholinesterase as an enzyme label

An improved version of the disposable multichannel immunochemical biosensor for the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) based on a screen-printed amperometric transducer and monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against 2,4-D is reported. Entrapment within a thin Nafion film was used for the direct immobilization of MAb at the electrode surface. The amount of the tracer (2,4-D conjugated to acetylcholinesterase) bound in a competitive immunochemical reaction was determined amperometrically using acetylthiocholine iodide as substrate. The measuring procedure (times of incubation with tracer and substrate, pH, tracer concentration) was optimized. The sensor was able to detect less than 0.01 μg/L of free 2,4-D in water. One analysis (8 samples) was completed in 30 min (20 min for immunochemical reaction, 5 min incubation with substrate, 5 min measurement). The performance of the immunosensor (two configurations) was evaluated on real samples (tap water) with added 2,4-D. The determined amounts (mean values 0.097 to 0.105 and 0.89 to 1.13) corresponded well with the added contents of 2,4-D (0.100 and 1.00 μg/L, respectively).     

Synthesis of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Particles by Suspension Polymerization in Silicon Oil

Molecular imprinting is a method to prepare polymers with recognition site of desired and predetermined selectivity1. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) are prepared by copolymerizing functional and cross-linking monomers in the presence of a molecular …     

Sorption of Paraquat and 2,4-D by an Oscillatoria Sp.-Dominated Cyanobacterial Mat

The present study characterises sorption of two pesticides, namely, paraquat (PQ) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) by an Oscillatoria sp.-dominated cyanobacterial mat. Sorption of PQ onto the test mat was not significantly affected by the pH of the solution within the pH range 2–7. However, 2,4-D sorption was strongly influenced by the solution pH and was maximum at pH 2. Whereas PQ sorption increased with increase in temperature, 2,4-D sorption showed an opposite trend. The sorption of PQ and 2,4-D achieved equilibrium within 1 h of incubation, independent of concentration of pesticide and mat biomass in the solution. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model better defined PQ sorption than the pseudo-first-order model, whereas 2,4-D sorption was well defined by both the models. Sorption isotherms of both the pesticides showed L-type curve. Freundlich model more precisely defined PQ sorption than Langmuir model, thereby suggesting heterogeneous distribution of PQ binding sites onto the biomass surface. However, the Langmuir model more correctly defined 2,4-D sorption, thus, indicating homogeneous distribution of 2,4-D binding sites onto the biomass surface. The test biomass is a good sorbent for the removal of PQ because it could, independent of pH of the solution, sorb substantial amount of PQ (q _max = 0.13 mmol g⁻¹).     

Regenerable immunobiosensor for the chemiluminescent flow injection analysis of the herbicide 2,4-D

A semi-automated chemiluminescent competitive immunosensor for the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is presented. Anti-2,4-D polyclonal antibodies are directly labelled with horseradish peroxidase allowing a p-iodophenol enhanced chemiluminescent detection. Using antigen immobilised on UltraBind type pre-activated membranes, the 2,4-D immunosensor exhibits low non-specific/specific binding ratio (maximum ratio: 5%) of the labelled antibodies. The quantification of free 2,4-D in water is performed by co-injecting the sample and the labelled antibodies in the flow system, incubating this solution with the antigen immobilised membrane and measuring the amount of specifically bound labelled antibodies. Such an analytical system enables the detection of 4 mug l(-1) of free antigen in 20 min, and the 2,4-D detection is possible in the range 4 mug l(-1)-160 mg l(-1). The immunosensor can be regenerated by simply flowing a chaotropic solution (0.1 M HCl, 0.1 M NaCl, 0.1 M glycine) in the system. This regeneration ability enables the achievement of more than 30 measurement cycles of free 2,4-D with the same antigen immobilised membrane with a good reproducibility (RSD=12.5%).     

Synthesis of Cu-Modified Nickel Oxide Nanocrystals and Their Applications as Hole-Injection layers for Quantum-Dot Light-Emitting Diodes

Solution-processed NiO_x thin films have been applied as hole-injection layers (HILs) in quantum-dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs). The commonly used NiO_x HILs are prepared by the precursor-based route, which requires high annealing temperatures of over 275 °C to in situ convert the precursors into oxide films. Such high processing temperatures of NiO_x HILs hinder their applications in flexible devices. Herein, we report a low-temperature approach based on Cu-modified NiO_x (NiO_x-Cu) nanocrystals to prepare HILs. A simple post-synthetic surface-modification step, which anchors the copper agents onto the surfaces of oxide nanocrystals, is developed to improve the electrical conductivity of the low-temperature-processed (135 °C) oxide-nanocrystal thin films. In consequence, QLEDs based on the NiO_x-Cu HILs exhibit an external quantum efficiency of 17.5 % and a T₉₅ operational lifetime of ∼2,800 h at an initial brightness of 1,000 cd m⁻², meeting the commercialization requirements for display applications. The results shed light on the potential of using NiO_x-Cu HILs for realizing high-performance flexible QLEDs.     

Influence of mesoporosity on the sorption of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid onto alumina and silica

Two SiO2 and three Al2O3 adsorbents with varying degrees of mesoporosity (pore diameter 2-50 nm) were reacted with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) at pH 6 to investigate the effects of intraparticle mesopores on adsorption/desorption. Anionic 2,4-D did not adsorb onto either SiO2 solid, presumably because of electrostatic repulsion, but it did adsorb onto positively charged Al2O3 adsorbents, resulting in concave isotherms. The Al2O3 adsorbent of highest mesoporosity consistently adsorbed more 2,4-D per unit surface area than did the nonporous and less mesoporous Al2O3 adsorbents over a range of initial 2,4-D solution concentrations (0.025-2.5 mM) and reaction times (30 min-55 d). Differences in adsorption efficiency were observed despite equivalent surface site densities on the three Al2O3 adsorbents. Hysteresis between the adsorption/desorption isotherms was not observed, indicating that adsorption is reversible. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy studies confirm that 2,4-D adsorption does not occur via ligand exchange, but rather via electrostatic interaction. The results indicate that adsorbent intraparticle mesopores can result in consistently greater 2,4-D adsorption, but the amount adsorbed is dependent upon surface charge and the presence of adsorbent mesoporosity. The data also suggest that when mineral pores are significantly larger than the adsorbate, they do not contribute to diffusion-limited adsorption/desorption hysteresis. Adsorbent transformations through time are discussed.     

Microwave and ultrasonic extraction of chlorophenoxy acids from soil and their determination by fluorescence polarization immunoassay

Procedures were developed for the ultrasonic and microwave extraction of pesticides, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlophenoxyacetic (2,4,5-T) acids from soils for the subsequent determination by fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). The effect of the matrix composition of soils on the FPIA results was studied, and the optimum extractants and extraction conditions were selected. It was found that 40% ethanol is optimum for both extraction and FPIA determination, because it does not cause antibody denaturation. The recovery of pesticides in soil was 80–132% for 2,4-D and 101–138% for 2,4,5-T. Microwave extraction is more efficient than ultrasonic extraction for the determination of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T in soil. The detection limit in soil and the analytical range are 2 and 4–200 μg/g, respectively, for 2,4-D and 20 and 80–5000 μg/g, respectively, for 2,4,5-T. Results of the determination of 2,4-D in soil by FPIA are in good agreement with the results of the determination by high-performance liquid chromatography. The procedures can be used for the rapid determination of chlorophenoxy acids in soils.     

Preparation and characterization of molecularly imprinted electropolymerized carbon electrodes

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) selective for fluorescein, rhodamine or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) were electropolymerized onto graphite electrodes using an aqueous solution equimolar in resorsinol/ortho-phenylenediamine and in the presence of the template molecule. For the dyes, the MIP-coated electrodes showed higher affinity for their template molecule than for a non-template dye. The 2,4-D-MIP-coated electrode showed a concentration dependent response for 2,4-D as compared to the polymer-coated electrode prepared in the absence of template molecule.     

苯氧羧酸类农药在高岭石表面吸附的理论研究

构建了高岭石铝氧八面体层表面模型Al₁₃O₄₈H₅₇和硅氧四面体层表面模型Si₁₃O₃₇H₂₂,采用B3LYP/6-31G(d,p)方法, 对其与2,4-二氯苯氧乙酸(2,4-D)、 2,4-二氯苯氧丙酸(2,4-DP)、 2,4-二氯苯氧丁酸(2,4-DB)、 2-甲基-4-氯苯氧乙酸(MCPA)、 2-甲基-4-氯苯氧丙酸(MCPP)和2-甲基-4-氯苯氧丁酸(MCPB)等苯氧羧酸类农药分子间的相互作用及吸附性质进行了研究, 包括优化的几何构型、 结构参数、 吸附能及自然键轨道(NBO)电荷. 八面体层表面的中心原子(OH2, OH3及OH11)与四面体层表面的中心原子(O2, O3及O11)并未表现出明显的吸附活性. 相较于侧链为乙酸基的分子, 含有丙酸基或丁酸基的分子因带有更多的吸附位点而具有较强的吸附性. 研究发现MCPP的吸附性高于MCPA. 结合2,4-D的吸附性高于MCPA的结论, 可以推断2,4-D与MCPA更倾向于吸附在高岭石的硅氧层表面. 因此在农药施用的过程中, 应充分考虑各分子的活性及其与高岭石表面的作用强弱, 确保淋洗对去除农药在土壤中残留的可行性.     

Optimizing Separation Conditions for Chlorophenoxycarboxylic Acid Herbicides in Natural and Potable Water Using Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

Chlorophenoxycarboxylic acid herbicides were separated and determined by capillary electrophoresis. An analysis of a six-component mixture containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxybutyric (2,4-DB), 2,4-dichlorophenoxypropionic (2,4-DP), 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic (2,4,5-T), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic (2,4-D), and phenoxyacetic (PA) acids and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), the product of their degradation in aqueous media, took no longer than 15 min. Solid-phase extraction on Diapak C-16 cartridges was used for sample preparation. The detection limits for herbicides in water samples with account for preconcentration (K = 250) were found to be 0.0005 mg/L for 2,4-DB, 2,4-DP, 2,4,5-T, and 2,4-D and 0.001 mg/L for PA. It was shown that humic acids (< 50 mg/L) do not interfere with the determination of chlorophenoxycarboxylic acids.     

Selection of hapten structures for indirect immunosensor arrays

A multianalyte immunosensor array can be implemented by immobilization of different haptens in distinct areas of a single cavity or flow cell. In this case a mixture of different antibodies for different analytes is used in an indirect ELISA-format. The selection of the right hapten structures is very important to build up an array successfully. A system of independent hapten/antibody combinations is needed, with one immobilized hapten (coating antigen) reacting only with one antibody. If more than one antibody binds to a coating antigen no ideal calibration curves are obtained. This phenomenon is known as shared-reactivity and can lead to double-sigmoidal curves. To use monoclonal antibodies to 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), two different haptens had to be found, one only reacting with the TNT-antibody, the other only binding to the 2,4-D-antibody. 2,4-Dichlorophenoxybutyric acid was used for the 2,4-D antibody and 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl-8-aminooctanoic acid for the TNT antibody. Although 4-nitrotoluene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene and 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene showed only very low cross-reactivities to the 2,4-D antibody the corresponding haptens 4-nitrophenylacetic acid, 2,4-dinitrophenyl-6-aminohexanonic acid, and 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluyl-(N)-glutarate are useful coating antigens for this antibody. The structure of the coating antigens had no significant influence on the midpoints (IC50) of the test for 2,4-D and even haptens with very low cross-reactivities could be used. With all haptens a test midpoint of about 0.2 μg/L for 2,4-D was achieved. For the direct assay format with immobilized antibodies the same test midpoint of 0.2 μg/L for 2,4-D was obtained. As a conclusion, the selectivity of a monoclonal antibody should not be influenced by the used tracer or coating antigen as well. It could be shown that the affinity constants of an antibody to the analytes are the main sensitivity and selectivity determining parameters for competitive immunoassays. A two-dimensional microtiter plate array was used to determine the analytes 2,4-D and TNT in parallel with a mixture of antibodies. Received: 29 July 1998 / Revised: 21 October 1998 / Accepted: 10 November 1998     

The roughened silver–palladium cathode for electrocatalytic reductive dechlorination of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

The roughened silver–palladium (Pd/Ag(r)) electrode was fabricated by a convenient metallic replacement reaction, and its electrocatalytic property towards reductive dechlorination of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in basic aqueous solution have been evaluated. Experimental evidence is presented that Pd/Ag(r) exhibited powerful electrocatalytic activity for dechlorination of 2,4-D. In addition, a new dechlorination mechanism of 2,4-D was proposed, in which the formation of adsorbed 2,4-D on Ag is a key step.     

Synthesis and study of a sorbent based on silica gel modified with hyperbranched poly(dichloromethylsilylpropyl)carbosilane with molecular imprints of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

A new sorbent for selective sorption of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from aqueous solutions—silica gel modified with hyperbranched poly(dichloromethylsilylpropyl)carbosilane with molecular imprints of 2,4-D (SG-MI)—has been synthesized, and its specific surface area has been estimated. Sorption of 2,4-D has been studied under static conditions. Analysis of sorption isotherms shows that SG-MI is capable molecular recognition of 2,4-D. The selectivity of the sorbent synthesized was estimated for structurally related compounds.     

Electrochemical sensor for 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid using molecularly imprinted polypyrrole membrane as recognition element

An electrochemical sensor based on molecularly imprinted polypyrrole membranes is reported for the determination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D). The sensor was prepared by electropolymerization of pyrrole on a glassy carbon electrode in the presence of 2,4-D as a template. The template was removed by overoxidation at +1.3 V in buffer solution. The sensor can effectively improve the reductive properties of 2,4-D and eliminate interferences by other pesticides and electroactive species. The peak current at -0.78 V is linear with the concentration of 2,4-D from 1.0 to 10 µM, the detection limit is 0.83 µM (at 3σ), and the relative standard deviation is 3.9% (at 5.0 µM of 2,4-D; n?=?7). The method has been successfully applied to the determination of 2,4-D in environmental water samples, with recovery rates ranging from 92% to 108%.     

A Method for Determination of Low Levels of Exposure to 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T

A method has been developed for the determination of trace quantities of 2,4-dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-TCP) in human and rat urine. The method involves acid hydrolysis of the phenolic conjugates, extraction of the free phenols and acids, ethylation with diazoethane, silica-gel column chromatography clean-up of the derivatized urine extract, and gas chromatographic determination using the electron-capture detector. The average recoveries of 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T, 2,4-DCP, and 2,4,5-TCP from rat urine spiked with known amounts of the herbicides and their phenols were 94%, 98%, 92%, and 90%, respectively. The limits of detection for 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T, DCP, and TCP in rat urine were: 0.05, 0.01, 0.10, and 0.01 ppm, respectively. The method was used to analyze urine of rats given various levels of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T by gavage. Results showed that levels of exposure of 3.75 mcg/kg for 2,4-D and 5.0 mcg/kg for 2,4,5-T in rats can be detected in urine within 24 hr from exposure. Urine samples from occupationally exposed people were analyzed and found to contain 0.2 to 1.0 ppm 2,4-D and 0.05 to 3.6 ppm 2,4,5-T.     

Molecularly imprinted polypyrrole nanonecklaces for detection of herbicide through molecular recognition-amplifying current response

Molecularly imprinted polypyrrole (PPy) nanonecklaces were facilely synthesized through a two-step oxidative polymerization route for the amperometric detection of non-electrochemically active herbicide. It has been demonstrated that dissolved oxygen can preoxidize pyrrole to form PPy oligomer bundles, which further self-assemble into necklace-like micelles in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. Subsequently, these microstructures were immediately gelled through quick polymerization of residual pyrrole monomers, leading to the formation of PPy nanonecklaces. Meanwhile, herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was synchronously imprinted into the formed PPy and highly dense imprinted sites were generated in PPy nanonecklaces because the necklace-like structure with microgaps/pores provides the facile and complete removal of templates. The imprinted nanonecklaces exhibit the high capacity and fast kinetics to uptake 2,4-D molecules, and produce a imprinting factor of ∼4.2. Importantly, the recognition and binding to 2,4-D significantly amplify the current response by a factor of 8 times in amperometric measurements, providing a sensitive detection of 2,4-D. The molecular imprinting strategy opens a novel avenue to the direct detection of non-electrochemically active species in a more convenient, simpler and cheaper way than the traditional competition-displacing approaches.     

Application of NaClO-treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes as solid phase extraction sorbents for preconcentration of trace 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in aqueous samples

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes functionalized by oxidation of original multiwalled carbon nanotubes with NaClO were prepared and their application as solid phase extraction sorbent for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was investigated systemically, and a new method was developed for the determination of trace 2,4-D in water samples based on extraction and preconcentration of 2,4-D with solid phase extraction columns packed with NaClO-treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes prior to its determination by HPLC. The optimum experimental parameters for preconcentration of 2,4-D, including the column activating conditions, the amount of the sorbent, pH of the sample, elution composition, and elution volume, were investigated. The results indicated 2,4-D could be quantitatively retained by 100 mg NaClO-treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes at pH 5, and then eluted completely with 10 mL 3:1 (v/v) methanol-ammonium acetate solution (0.3 mol/L). The detection limit of this method for 2,4-D was 0.15 μg/L, and the relative standard deviation was 2.3% for fortified tap water samples and 2.5% for fortified riverine water sample at the 10 μg/L level. The method was validated using fortified tap water and riverine water samples with known amount of 2,4-D at the 0.4, 10, and 30 μg/L levels, respectively.