Immunological determination of triazine pesticides bound to soil humic acids (bound residues)

An immunological method for the determination of triazine herbicides covalently bound to soil humic acids has been developed. A sandwich-immunoassay has been performed, based on both polyclonal humic acid-antibodies and monoclonal triazineantibodies. A peroxidase-labelled third antibody has been used for the photometric detection. A triazine-humic acid conjugate served as calibration standard. The coupling density for this conjugate has been determined by measuring the difference of free amino groups both with ninhydrin and with the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid method. In addition, the coupling density has been confirmed by scintillation counting using a (14)C-atrazine derivative. Due to nonspecific interactions between antibody proteins and humic acids, different blocking steps had to be performed. Finally, the assay has been applied to a triazine contaminated soil sample. Humic acids (including bound residues) have been extracted by diluted sodium carbonate solution. Concentrations of bound atrazine residues have been found in the range of 2 mg/kg soil on fields where triazine herbicides has been applied over a period of 21 years. These results are comparable to both the applied amount and the nonextractable fraction.     

Immunological method for the detection of nitroaromatic residues covalently bound to humic acids

The potential of the earlier reported sandwich-immunoassay principle for the detection of nitroaromatic residues bound to humic acids was examined. A synthetic conjugate derived by coupling a 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene derivative to humic acid was used as a model substance for bound nitroaromatic residues. Spectrophotometric determination gave a content of 14 ± 1.6 μmol/g TNT-derivative in the synthetic conjugate, which was used as a calibration standard. Extensive blocking optimization was necessary to establish the sandwich-immunoassay. Experiments were carried out to check the selectivity of the developed test system. Trace amounts of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (25 μg/L) suppressed the assay signal completely by blocking the antibody binding sites. This was a proof for the excellent selectivity of the assay. The potential of quantitative determinations was examined with dilution experiments. During assay optimization strong non-immunological interactions between various proteins and humic acids were observed. This led to a significant improvement of the original sandwich-immunoassay, where the humic acid antibody was substituted by basic proteins. More sensitive calibration curves with higher signal intensities were achieved. This new immunoassay seems to be the method of choice for further immunological investigations of bound residues.     

Characterization of a covalent triazine-humic acid conjugate by gas chromatography

The aim of the described method was the characterization of a “atrazine-mercaptopropionic acid” humic acid conjugate, which was required for the calibration of immunoassays to determine bound residues. In order to estimate the amount of bound triazine, an oxidative nucleophilic substitution reaction of the covalently linked “atrazine-mercaptopropionic acid” to a new triazine derivative “atrazine-methoxyethanol” was performed. This cleavage product was quantified by gas chromatography. The conditions for this cleavage procedure were optimized and applied to the “atrazine-mercaptopropionic acid” humic acid conjugate and to a humic acid blank. The amount of bound “atrazine-mercaptopropionic acid” was calculated to 16.6 ± 2.5 μmol triazine per gram humic acid, which is equivalent to 0.39 ± 0.07% atrazine. Received: 7 August 1997 / Accepted: 12 September 1997     

Effect of ammonium formate as ionizing additive in thermospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of triazine,phenylurea and chlorinated phenoxyacetic acid herbicides

A comparison between the use of ammonium acetate and ammonium formate in thermospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with positive and negative ion modes using ‘filament-on’ mode has been applied for the determination of simazine, atrazine, propazine, monuron, diuron, linuron, 2,4,-D, 2,4,5-T and silvex. By using ammonium formate, the positive ion mode showed for triazine and phenylurea herbicides [M + H]⁺ and [M + NH₄]⁺, respectively, and the formation of other adduct ions different from ammonium acetate. In the negative ion mode, chlorinated phenoxyacetic acid herbicides exhibited [M + acetate]^? or [M + formate]^?, depending on the ionizing additive. Applications are reported for the determination of triazine and chlorinated phenoxyacetic acid herbicides in spiked soil and water samples, respectively.     

Binding of Organic Pollutants to Soil Organic Matter

Abstract

Binding of organic pollutants to water-soluble, low-molecular weight humic substances increases their mobility in soil and their leaching, whereas binding to high-molecular weight humic substances results in unextractable residues. Water-soluble pollutants in leachate may be bound to low-molecular weight humic material, or may be free water-soluble conversion products that are slowly released from a soil-bound form, as shown for a conversion product of the insecticide aldrin. Unextractable soil-bound 4-chloroaniline was isolated by supercritical methanol extraction 16 years after application of the phenylurea herbicide buturon to soil. Biodegradation and bioavailability of unextractable soil-bound residues are greatly reduced as compared to the free compounds. For some chlorinated anilines and phenols, biomineralization and plant uptake was shown to be highest for residues bound in fulvic acids and lowest for those in humic acids. Model experiments demonstrate that chlorinated anilines form covalent bonds with humic acid precursors.     

Development of a highly sensitive enzyme-immunoassay for the determination of triazine herbicides

A monoclonal antibody (Mab) with extraordinary sensitivity and high class selectivity to triazine herbicides is described. With an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using Mab 4A54 IC₅₀ values for terbuthylazine, atrazine, propazine and simazine below 0.1 μg/L (the EU maximum admissible concentration for individual pesticides) have been obtained. Detection limits of 0.004 μg/L for terbuthylazine, 0.006 μg/L for atrazine, 0.003 μg/L for propazine, 0.01 μg/L for simazine and 0.05 μg/L for deethylterbuthylazine could be achieved. Therefore, Mab 4A54 allows a sum screening of these five triazines in a relevant concentration range. To our knowledge, this is the most sensitive antibody to terbuthylazine at all and also the most sensitive Mab to all these four triazines. Another monoclonal antibody resulting from the same immunization, clone 4A118, exhibits best sensitivity for propazine (detection limit: 0.02 μg/L) at lower cross-reactivity to terbuthylazine and atrazine compared to clone 4A54. Affinity constants of both Mabs towards several triazines have been calculated. The application of both Mabs for the analysis of triazines in water samples of different origin has been tested and their resistance towards humic acid influence could be shown. A good correlation of the analysis of water samples with GC and ELISA was observed.     

Development of a highly sensitive enzyme-immunoassay for the determination of triazine herbicides

A monoclonal antibody (Mab) with extraordinary sensitivity and high class selectivity to triazine herbicides is described. With an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using Mab 4A54 IC₅₀ values for terbuthylazine, atrazine, propazine and simazine below 0.1 μg/L (the EU maximum admissible concentration for individual pesticides) have been obtained. Detection limits of 0.004 μg/L for terbuthylazine, 0.006 μg/L for atrazine, 0.003 μg/L for propazine, 0.01 μg/L for simazine and 0.05 μg/L for deethylterbuthylazine could be achieved. Therefore, Mab 4A54 allows a sum screening of these five triazines in a relevant concentration range. To our knowledge, this is the most sensitive antibody to terbuthylazine at all and also the most sensitive Mab to all these four triazines. Another monoclonal antibody resulting from the same immunization, clone 4A118, exhibits best sensitivity for propazine (detection limit: 0.02 μg/L) at lower cross-reactivity to terbuthylazine and atrazine compared to clone 4A54. Affinity constants of both Mabs towards several triazines have been calculated. The application of both Mabs for the analysis of triazines in water samples of different origin has been tested and their resistance towards humic acid influence could be shown. A good correlation of the analysis of water samples with GC and ELISA was observed. Received: 17 February 1997 / Revised: 1 April 1997 / Accepted: 3 April 1997     

高效液相色谱法测定大豆中13种三嗪类除草剂多残留量

建立了同时检测大豆中13种三嗪类除草剂多残留量的反相高效液相色谱(RP-HPLC)方法。样品经乙腈提取,凝胶渗透色谱和中性氧化铝SPE柱净化,然后采用RP-HPLC-二极管阵列检测法测定,外标法定量。对样品前处理和色谱分离条件进行了研究和优化。13种三嗪类除草剂在0.06~5.0 mg/L范围内线性良好,相关系数为0.9998~0.9999。在0.02~1.0μg/g浓度范围内,平均加标回收率在71.9%~101.9%之间,相对标准偏差为2.3%~10.7%。方法简便、快速,净化效果较好,可同时满足进、出口大豆中多种除草剂残留量的检验工作需要。     

Preparation and application of simetryn‐imprinted nanoparticles in triazine herbicide residue analysis

This work provides a simple and rapid method for synthesis uniform simetryn imprinted nanoparticles, which can be used to pretreat the tested samples before detecting. A series of computational approach were employed for design simetryn‐imprinted polymer. Based on the conclusion of theoretical calculation, the simetryn imprinted nanoparticles were synthesized using simetryn as template, methacrylic acid as monomer with different solvent volume and synthesis conditions. The obtained nanoparticles have small size, uniform distribution and high imprinted factor. Scatchard analysis and quantum chemical calculations were applied for evaluating the interaction of simetryn with methacrylic acid in the imprinting process. The selectivity and recognition ability of the simetryn imprinted nanoparticles for six triazine herbicides and two other type herbicides were investigated. The results show that the simetryn imprinted nanoparticles had high selectivity and binding capacity and could be used for the separation and enrichment of four triazine pesticide residues from actual samples. A method of molecularly imprinted matrix solid phase extraction ultra‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was established for detecting four kinds of triazine herbicide residues in tobacco. The recovery rate of terbuthylazine, simetryn, atrazine, and prometryn in tobacco was 84.03–119.05%, and the relative standard deviation was 0.35–10.12%.     

Determination of Triazine Herbicides in Aqueous Samples Using Solidification of a Floating Drop for Liquid-Phase Microextraction with Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

A rapid, simple, and efficient liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) method coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet detection for the analysis of triazine herbicides was developed in this study. Under the optimum conditions, the enrichment factors and extraction recoveries were 33.0–72.6 and 11.2–23.2%, respectively. The detection limits (LODs) were in the range of 0.03–0.10 µg L^?1. The relative standard deviations for the determination of the triazine herbicides at μg L^?1 levels varied in the range 2.05–8.15%. The method was successfully applied in the determination of the triazine herbicides in aqueous samples with satisfactory results.     

The uniqueness of humic substances in each of soil,stream and marine environments

Definitive compositional differences are shown to exist for both fulvic acids and humic acids from soil, stream and marine environments by five different methods (¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, ¹⁴C age and δ¹³C isotopic analyses, amino acid analyses and pyrolysis-mass spectrometry). Definitive differences are also found between fulvic acids and humic acids within each environment. These differences among humic substances from various sources are more readily discerned because the method employed for the isolation of humic substances from all environments excludes most of the non-humic components and results in more purified humic isolates from water and soils. The major compositional aspects of fulvic acids and humic acids which determine the observed characteristic differences in each environment are the amounts and composition of saccharide, phenolic, methoxyl, aromatic, hydrocarbon, amino acids and nitrogen moieties.     

Analysis of the chloroacetanilide herbicides in water using SPME with CAR/PDMS and GC/ECD

The solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique using a 75 mm film of carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane was applied to the analysis of chloroacetanilide herbicides (acetochlor, alachlor, butachlor, metolachlor, and propachlor) residues. The feasibility of SPME with gas chromatography electron capture detection analysis has been evaluated. The effects of experimental parameters such as magnetic stirring, salt addition, humic acid addition, pH value, and extraction time, as well as desorption temperature and time, were investigated. Analytical parameters such as linearity, repeatability and limit of detection were also evaluated. The inhibition of humic acid to the extraction of chloroacetanilide herbicides was observed. A standard addition method for calibration was recommended to reduce deviations caused by matrix interferences. The proposed method provided a simple and rapid analytical procedure for chloroacetanilide herbicides in water with limits of detection 0.002-0.065 microg/L for deionized water, and 0.005-0.22 microg/L for farm water. The relative standard deviations (n = 5) for analyses of farm water were 7-20% for 5 [corrected] microg/L chloroacetanilide herbicides. This application was illustrated by the analysis of sample collected from farm water in the Chung-hwa area, Taiwan.     

An amperometric method for the detection of amitrole, glyphosate and its aminomethyl-phosphonic acid metabolite in environmental waters using passive samplers

The herbicides amitrole and glyphosate, and its metabolite aminomethyl-phosphonic acid (AMPA), in water samples have been directly analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography using an electrochemical (EC) detector. Limits of detection of 0.3 μg mL⁻¹ for glyphosate, 0.05 μg mL⁻¹ for AMPA and 0.03 μg mL⁻¹ for amitrole were comparable to those obtained by other authors using EC and also by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, but the latter method requires derivatisation and pre-concentration of the sample whereas EC methods show similar sensitivity without the need of any derivatisation. The method was specifically designed to analyse extracts from passive samplers used for monitoring of polar herbicide residues in waters. To this purpose, three types of Empore^® disks were tested for their ability to adsorb and desorb these ionic, polar analytes. A procedure for their extraction from the membranes and reducing the interferences from other substances present in natural waters (i.e. humic acids) is described. The method is simple, does not require sophisticated equipment and is valid for the analysis and monitoring of herbicides residues using passive samplers.     

The Effects of a Strong Disaggregating Agent on Sec-Page of Aquatic and Soil Humic Matter

Abstract

Size-exclusion chromatographic (SEC) fractionation and electrophoretic separation of aquatic humic matter samples from a Finnish lake using Sephadex G-75 with 7 M urea solution as eluent and 10% polyacrylamide gel (PAGE) with urea and sodium dodecyl sulphate solution (SDS), respectively, were performed and compared to similar analyses performed on a Russian chernozem soil humic acid sample and Nordic reference fulvic and humic acid samples. The integrated whole of aquatic humic solutes and soil humic acids were found to exhibit similar SEC-PAGE behaviours. Humic matter was not excessively disaggregated by the 7 M urea and hence SEC-PAGE can with confidence be applied as a coarse, initial fractionation procedure or for certain predeterminations of the structural composition.     

Imidazolinone and triazine herbicides in soils in relation to the complexes formed with Cu(II) ions

Imidazolinone and triazine herbicides are used in many countries and may have a great impact on metal biocycles in soil. This article deals with the dynamics of imidazolinone and triazine herbicides in soils related to the formation of complexes with Cu(II) ions, which can be very stable. The stability constants of the complexes formed by five imidazolinone herbicides and ten triazine herbicides with Cu(II) ions are determined by means of fast, easy, and inexpensive measurements performed by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, for imidazolinones, and voltammetry (cyclic and differential pulse), for triazines. Because of the occurrence of dissociation reactions, the determinations were performed at three pH values for imidazolinones and at one pH value for triazines. In aqueous solutions of 5 < pH < 10 (corresponding to the majority of soils of agricultural use), the herbicides form very stable complexes with the Cu(II) ions, the complexes being integrated by two ligands (herbicides) and one copper ion. In conclusion, crops treated with such herbicides in conjunction with Cu(II) salts experience a decrease in its persistence and effectiveness. In addition, the herbicides and the copper ions may pass to the phreatic layer of the soil, increasing the chance of pollution.     

A new non-enzymatic tracer for time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay of triazine herbicides

Summary The synthesis, characterization and application of a new kind of conjugate as tracer for use in time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay of triazine herbicides is described. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) served as carrier molecule, to which a triazine herbicide derivative and the Eu(III)-chelate W8044-Eu were subsequently coupled. The conjugate was characterized after each synthesis step by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). The total composition was 1 BSA : 5.2 (±0.7) haptens : 5.1 (±0.4) fluorophores as calculated from the MALDI-MS data. The conjugate was successfully applied in competitive fluoroimmunoassays with sequential or simultaneous incubation of herbicide and tracer. With the sequential assay, the lowest detection limit was 0.1 g/l for terbutryn. Results of assays performed with microtiter strips were compared with those obtained with commercial micro affinity columns.     

Pyrolysis—gas chromatography—mass spectrometry of a low organic matter calcareous soil

A modification to the general method of pyrolysis-gas chromatography of soils which improves the reproducibility of the technique is described. It has been applied to the study of a calcareous soil, low in organic matter and varations have been studied in programs from soil at different depths as well as from the corresponding humic acids, fulvic acids and extraction residues.Most of the major peaks have identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: they correspond to those cited in earlier works. Data are presented on the characteristics of the pyrolysis products of this soil in the relation to their probobic origin. The evolution of organic matter through various pyrolysis relations is also discussed.     

Comparative characteristic studies on soil and commercial humic acids

Summary Two commercial and eight soil humic acids were characterized to evaluate the use of commercial humic materials in soil and environmental studies. Significant differences between commercial and soil humic acids were observed in ash content, major and micro-element constituents, E₄/E₆ ratio, total acidity and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy; but data from stability constant and IR-spectroscopy were almost identical. The commercial materials appeared to be significantly less aromatic and more aliphatic in nature as compared with representative soil humic acids. The above discrepancies were interpreted as indicating an origin of the respective commercial product other than soil. The two commercial humic acids investigated may not originate from the same source material as evidenced by clear-cut differences in the intensity of the ¹³C-NMR spectra in almost all chemical shift regions. Due to the observed structural, compositional and characteristic dissimilarities, both between soil and commercial humic acids and between different commercial ones, the commercial humic products are not recommended to be used as analogues of real soil humic acids in soil and environmental studies.     

A study of antimony complexed to soil-derived humic acids and inorganic antimony species along a Massachusetts highway

Antimony is a toxic metalloid and is often present in inorganic forms such as more toxic Sb(III) and less toxic Sb(V). Auto brake linings are major contributors to antimony emissions along heavily traveled highways. In this study the distribution of water extractable Sb(III) and Sb(V) species along a Massachusetts highway was investigated. Antimony complexed to roadside soil-derived humic acids was studied by ion chromatography (IC) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled to inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Thirty surface soil and soil core samples along route 116 in western Massachusetts were collected. Two soil-derived humic acids were extracted from the roadside soils. Elevated levels of nitric acid-extractable Sb (range: 2.9-24.9 µg/kg) and Pb (range: 10.4-2420 mg/kg) were found in the soil along the road and correlated well with highway traffic patterns. Sb(V) was the dominant species present in both surface and soil core samples, and is mostly confined to the top 20-cm layer of soil. HA mediated Sb(III) to Sb(V) oxidation was relatively fast and demonstrated pseudo-first order kinetics, where pseudo rate constant k is 3.033 h^-1. Antimony bound to soil-derived humic acid molar mass fractions was identified.     

Determination of Triazine Herbicides and Diuron in Mud from Olive Washing Devices and Soils Using Gas Chromatography with Selective Detectors

Abstract

In the present work, a method for the simultaneous determination of five herbicides, diuron, simazine, atrazine, terbuthylazine and terbutryn by GC‐electron capture detection (ECD) and GC‐thermoionic specific detector (TSD) in soil and mud samples (from olives washing devices) has been developed. Extraction of the herbicides from soil samples was carried out by liquid–solid extraction with ciclohexane/acetone under sonication. In addition, a clean‐up step by solid phase extraction (SPE) using alumina was necessary for mud samples to remove fat residues in the extracts. Spiked soil standards were used for calibration. Limit of detection (LOD) values ranged between 0.2–1.4 ng g^?1 and limit of quantitation (LOQ) between 1.4–2.0 ng g^?1. The precision of the method was satisfactory for all the herbicides analyzed, with RSD values ranging between 7.5%–32.3% and 8.5%–17.8% for 10 and 100 ng g^?1 spiking levels, respectively. The accuracy of the method was checked at three spiking levels (10, 50, and 100 ng g^?1) with recovery values ranging from 74.2%–129.1%. In the case of mud samples, mean recovery values (100 ng g^?1 spiking level) were acceptable for diuron (69.5%) and more satisfactory in the case of triazine herbicides (81.0%–123.0%). Diuron and terbuthylazine were the herbicides most frequently detected in the analyzed samples.