Determination of imazaquin residues in soil by solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography

A method has been developed for the quantitation of imazaquin residues in soil. The herbicide was extracted from soil with methanol-water (2 + 1, v/v) and cleaned up by strong anion-exchange solid-phase extraction cartridges. Analysis was performed by using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Average recoveries through the method ranged from 90.7 to 100.6%, with relative standard deviation equal to or lower than 6.6%. The limit of detection was estimated to be 0.0015 mg/kg, and the minimum quantitation concentration of imazaquin in soil was 0.005 mg/kg. This method was successfully applied to evaluate imazaquin residue levels in soil and its dissipation rates in a soybean field in the Xisanqi District of Beijing, People's Republic of China. The dissipation study showed that the half life of imazaquin in soil was 10.37 +/- 0.0135 days at 3 different application rates.