Amperometric Immunosensor for the Detection of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (2,4-D) in Water

ABSTRACT

An amperometric immunosensor for the determination of the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in water has been developed using sequential injection analysis techniques. The system is based on a rapid competitive enzyme immunoassay employing an alkaline phosphatase-labeled monoclonal antibody directed against the herbicide and an immunoreactor with 2,4-D immobilized via bovine serum albumin either to Eupergit in a column or directly to the surface of a glass capillary. The detection limit of the immunosensor at 0.1 μg 2,4-D/l without enrichment of the analyte makes automatic measurements of 2,4-D in drinking and ground water feasible.     

A Fast,Simple Method for Analysis of Phenoxy Acid Salt and Ester Formulations by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

Salt formulations of 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), 2,4,5-T (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and dichlorprop [2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propanoic acid] have been analysed by reversed-phase HPLC using a C18-column with 50:50 (v/v) acetonitrile/2% acetic acid as eluant. Internal and external standard HPLC methods are compared.

Ester formulations of 2,4-D and 2,4,5–T are analysed, without hydrolysis, on the same column using 60:40 (v/v) acetonitrile/2% acetic acid as eluant. The method has been used in this laboratory to determine free phenoxy acid in ester formulations, and for the identification of esters in mixed ester formulations.

The methods are fast and accurate, and offer some advantages over previously-described methods.     

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%).     

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.     

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%.     

New immunosensors for 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T pesticides determination

New immunosensors for 2-(2, 4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid (i.e. 2,4-D) and (2, 4, 5-trichlorophenoxy) acetic acid (i.e. 2,4,5-T) pesticide determination were developed using a non commercial antibody, hydrogen peroxide transducer and horseradish peroxidase as enzyme marker. The results show the full validity of these immunosensor devices, which were optimized using a ‘competition’ separation procedure. These immunosensors were also used to test pesticide recovery in common real matrices such as field grass, maize and wheat samples, for which good results were obtained. The immunosensors developed demonstrated a good selectivity versus different kinds of pesticides and may thus be considered as suitable devices for application to real matrices (LOD?=?8.0?×?10^?11?mol?L^?1; RSD%?=?5.2 for 2,4-D and LOD?=?2.8?×?10^?9?mol?L^?1; RSD%?=?6.1 for 2,4,5-T).     

Development and Comparative Study of Different Immunoenzyme Techniques for Pesticides Detection

Abstract

Different ELISA techniques have been developed for the detemination of four widely used pesticides: 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), simazine and atrazine. Dependences between the assay scheme and the limiting detectable concentration of the pesticide were studied. The cases of preferential applying of the scheme with immobilized antibodies or one with immobilized pesticide-protein conjugate have been revealed. The following approaches resulting in lowering of ELISA sensitivity were proposed: preliminary incubation of the tested sample with antibodies, immobilization of antibodies via staphylococcal protein A, usage of monovalent fragments of antibodies instead of native ones and chemical modification of the pesticide molecules in the sample. Optimal combinations of these approaches permitted to lower the detection limit of the assays in about 5–30 times. The achieved sensitivities were 3 ng/mL for 2,4-D, 5 ng/mL for 2,4,5-T, 0.05 ng/mL for simazine, and 0.1 ng/mL for atrazine, being acceptable for purposes of ecological monitoring.     

A Piezoelectric Quartz Crystal Biosensor as a Direct Affinity Sensor

Abstract

A microprocessor controlled piezoelectric detector as sensor was employed to monitor in real time protein adsorption and immunoreactions using piezoelectric quartz crystals (AT-cut) with a basic resonant frequency of 10 MHz. The adsorbed protein was an immunoglobulin (h-lg G); in the immunosensing a covalent immobilized molecule (the pesticide 2,4-D) formed the receptor for the immobilized ligand sample (Mab anti-2,4-D) in a competitive assay.     

Plain Thin-layer Chromatography of Some Herbicides and Related Compounds on Admixture of Barium Sulfate and Calcium Sulphate in Mixed Solvents

Abstract

Some carboxylic herbicides and plant growth regulators such as benzoic acid, 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, cinnamic acid, 2,4-D, indole-3-acetic acid, indolepropionic acid, α-naphthalleneacetic acid, β-naphthal eneacetic acid, β-naphthoxyacetic acid, phenoxyacetic acid, TCA and 2,4,5-T have been separated on BaSO₄-CaSO₄ (1:1) coatings in mixed solvent systems.

Quantitative separations of indole-3-acetic acid (100 μg) from 50–100 μg of benzoic acid, α-naphthaleneacetic acid and 2,4,5-T have been carried out successfully.     

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     

Separation and Determination of D-Gluconic Acid Produced During Fermentation by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

Abstract

A novel method was developed for separation and determination of D-gluconic acid produced during fermentation by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with direct UV detection at 214 nm, using selected carrier electrolyte composed of 6 mM potassium biphthalate, 50 mM disodium hydrogen phosphate and 15% (v/v) acetonitrile. The effects of concentration of phthalate, phosphate and organic modifier (acetonitrile), as well as temperature for the separation were investigated. The method is simple, inexpensive and will make it very useful in the gluconic acid industry.     

Rapid and simultaneous analysis of dichlorvos, malathion, carbaryl, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid in citrus fruit by flow-injection ion spray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A simple method for the rapid and simultaneous analysis of dichlorvos (DDVP), malathion, carbaryl, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) in citrus fruit, which uses flow-injection ion spray ionization tandem mass spectrometry, has been developed for the first time. The method involves the combined use of stable isotopically labeled internal standards (DDVP-d₆, malathion-d₁₀, carbaryl-d₇, and 2,4-D-d₅) and a multiple reaction monitoring technique. The average recoveries for the pesticides at the same concentrations as their tolerance levels (DDVP: 0.1-0.2 μg g⁻¹; malathion: 0.5-4.0 μg g⁻¹; carbaryl: 1.0 μg g⁻¹; 2,4-D: 1.0-2.0 μg g⁻¹) ranged from 90 to 119% with the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) ranging from 1.0 to 13.1% (n = 5). Analysis time, including sample preparation and determination, was only 15 min. The present method is effective for screening DDVP, malathion, carbaryl, and 2,4-D in citrus fruit.     

Preparation of Amides of Carboxylic Acid Herbicides for Gas Chromatographic Analysis

Abstract

Amides of 14 carboxylic acid herbicides were prepared by reacting the free acid with the amine in toluene for 1 hr at 80[ddot]C in the presence of PCl₃ or P₂I₄. The acids include phenoxyacetic acids, arylacetic acids, and benzoic acids. Aniline, o-toluidine, 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)aniline, piperidine, and tetrahydroquinoline were the amine components. Excess of reagents and by-products of the reaction were removed by partitioning into aqueous acid and base. Retention times relative to 2,4-D anilide on 1% OV-22 and FSOT RSL-150 columns are listed for the anilides and should be useful for confirmation purposes. The anilides of 2,4-D, silvex and 2,4,5-T were obtained in better than 90% yield.     

Determination of Phenoxy Acid Pesticides in Frog and Fish Tissues by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

A gas chromatography-mass spectrometric GC-MS method has been developed for the determination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) in frog and fish tissues. After homogenization and sonication of 5 g samples, purification was achieved by a liquid phase extraction procedure using methyl-tert-butyl ether. The extract was reacted for 30 min at 80 °C with 10 % H₂SO₄ in methanol to form the corresponding methyl esters, which were simultaneously extracted with petroleum ether, and analysed by GC-MS in selected ion monitoring mode. Detection limits were 1.0 and 0.5 μg. kg^?1 for 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T respectively in tissue samples and the calibration curves showed good linearity (r ≥ 0.999). Twenty-five frog samples and forty-six fish samples from various regions in Korea were analyzed. 2,4,5-T was detected up to a maximum concentration of 16.2 μg kg^?1 in frogs and fish. The developed method may be valuable for the national monitoring project of endocrine disruptors (EDs) in biota.     

Simultaneous Determination of 13 Phenoxy Acid Herbicide Residues in Soybean by GC‐ECD

Abstract

In this study, a gas chromatography method for the multiresidue determination of 13 phenoxy acid herbicide residues (4‐CPA, 4‐CPP, phenoxy butyric acid, dicamba, MCPA, MCPP, MCPB, 2,4‐D, 3,4‐D, 2,4,5‐T, 2,4,5‐TP, 2,4‐DP, and 2,4‐DB) in soybean was developed. After the removal of fat using n‐hexane, the sample was extracted with acetonitrile‐50 mM HCl (v/v 7:3), and then followed by liquid‐liquid partition with n‐hexane (saturated by acetonitrile). The soybean extract was further cleaned up by anion exchange column. Then the residues were derived with pentafluorobenzyl bromide and the resulting pentafluorobenzyl (PFB) esters were analyzed by a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector (ECD), quantified by the external standard method. Recoveries of spiked samples at two fortified levels (0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg) are all above 70%. And the relative standard deviation was less than 20%. It shows that the limits of determination (LOD) of this method (S/N≥3) can meet the requirement of maximum residue analysis in import/export inspection for soybean.     

SYNTHESIS AND REACTIONS OF 2,3-DIHYDRO- 5-ARYL-5H,6H-THIAZOLO[3,2-b]-2,4-DIAZAFLUORENE-3,6-DIONES OF POTENTIAL BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES

Abstract

1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-l-aryl-3,9-dioxo-2,4-diazafluorenes (2) and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-aryl-9-oxo-3-thi-oxo-2,4-diazafluorenes (3) were newly synthesized. Compounds 3 reacted with chloroacetic acid, α-bromopropanoic acid, or B-bromopropanoic acid in the presence of fused sodium acetate and acetic anhydride to give 2,3-dihydro-5-aryl-5H,6H-thiazolo[3,2-b]2,4-diazafluorene-3,6-diones (4), 2-methyl-2,3-dihydro-5-aryl-5H,6H-thiazolo[3,2-b]2,4-diazafluorene-3,6-diones (5) and 2,3-dihydro-6-aryl-6H,7H-thiazino[3,2-b]2,4-diazafluorene-4,7-diones (6), respectively.

2,3-Dihydro-2-arylmethylene-5-aryl-5H,6H-thiazolo[3,2-b]2,4-diazafluorene-3,6-diones (7) were prepared by the reaction of compounds (3) with chloroacetic acid and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of fused sodium acetate and acetic anhydride or by the reactions of (4) with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of acetic anhydride.

2-(Arylhydroazono)-5-aryl-2,3-dihydro-5H,6H-thiazolo[3,2-b]2,4-diazafluorene-3,6-diones (8) were synthesized by coupling (4) with aryldiazonium salts in the presence of pyridine.     

QCM‐Based Immunosensor for the Determination of Ochratoxin A

Abstract

A piezoelectric immunosensor based on a competitive format was developed for determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) concentration. Surface modifications via two self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) were investigated respectively and a better result was obtained with the SAM of 16‐mercaptohexadecanoic acid (16‐MHDA). The quartz crystal microbalance (QCM)‐based immunosensor was fabricated by immobilizing anti‐OTA antibodies onto the surface of the 16‐MHDA‐modified electrode, and allowing competition between free OTA and that conjugated with BSA to occur. The assay exhibited a working range of 50–1000 ng/mL and a detection limit of 16.1 ng/mL. Studies of interference and matrix effects were performed to evaluate the feasibility of the developed immunosensor for the direct analysis of OTA in real samples. Recoveries were conducted at 50, 200, and 1000 ng/g and were determined to be in the range of 142%–76%. The OTA assay is specific. No cross‐reactivates were observed with citrinin.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of lanthanide complexes with foliage growth regulator: phenoxyalkanoic acid

Reactions of Ln(ClO₄)₃?·?6H₂O (Ln=La(III), Eu(III), Nd(III)), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and phenoxyacetic acid (PA) or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) yield [La(PA)₂ (phen)₂]₂(ClO₄)₂ (1), [Eu(2,4-D)₂(phen)₂]₂(ClO₄)₂ (2) and [Nd(2,4-D)₃(C₂H₅OH)] _n (3). Compounds 1–3 are characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV–Vis, ESI-MS spectra and TGA. 1 is also characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that 1 and 2 are binuclear, and 3 has a one-dimensional polymeric structure. The La(III), Eu(III) and Nd(III) are nine-coordinate with a distorted tricapped trigonal-prism geometry.     

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).     

speciation of Cadmium(II) Using Donnan Dialysis and Differential-Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry in a Flow-Injection System

Abstract

A flow-injection/Donnan dialysis/differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry system was developed for the determination of free cadmium concentrations, [Cd²⁺], in solutions containing organically complexed Cd(II). A small dialysis cell with a strong cation-exchange membrane separating the sample and the receiver channels, was equilibrated in a flow-injection system. The ionic strength of sample and receiver solutions was 0.1 M, with NaNO₃ as the bulk electrolyte. By determining a constant fraction of the Cd²⁺ associated with the membrane phase, [Cd²⁺] of the samples could be measured.

Experimentally determined [Cd²⁺] corresponded well with those calculated, using tabulated stability constants, when citric acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, and oxalic acid were added as ligands. Thus, negatively charged and uncharged complexes were excluded from the membrane. Using the experimental design presented, [Cd²⁺]>5 × 10^×8 M could be determined, but there is a great potential for increasing the sensitivity of the method.

In solutions containing 1.0 μM Cd(II) and 200 mg fulvic acid/l, the inorganic fraction (Cd²⁺ CdNO₃ ⁺ decreased from 57% to 10% when the pH increased from 4.04 to 5.51. In a soil solution from an orthic podzol, having a high concentration of dissolved organic carbon (22.4 mM), the inorganic fraction constituted 53% of the total Cd(II) concentration.