Determination of low-level agricultural residues in soft drinks and sports drinks by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry: single-laboratory validation

In this study, sponsored by PepsiCo Inc., a method was validated for measurement of 11 pesticide residues in soft drinks and sports drinks. The pesticide residues determined in this validation were alachlor, atrazine, butachlor, isoproturon, malaoxon, monocrotophos, paraoxon-methyl, phorate, phorate sulfone, phorate sulfoxide, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) when spiked at 0.100 microg/L (1.00 microg/L for phorate). Samples were filtered (if particulate matter was present), degassed (if carbonated), and analyzed using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Quantitation was performed with matrix-matched external standard calibration solutions. The standard curve range for this assay was 0.0750 to 10.0 microg/L. The calibration curves for all agricultural residues had coefficient of determination (r2) values greater than or equal to 0.9900 with the exception of 2 values that were 0.9285 and 0.8514. Fortification spikes at 0.100 microg/L (1.00 microg/L for phorate) over the course of 2 days (n=8 each day) for 3 matrixes (7UP, Gatorade, and Diet Pepsi) yielded average percent recoveries (and percent relative standard deviations) as follows (n=48): 94.4 (15.2) for alachlor, 98.2 (13.5) for atrazine, 83.1 (41.6) for butachlor, 89.6 (24.5) for isoproturon, 87.9 (24.4) for malaoxon, 96.1 (9.26) for monocrotophos, 101 (25.7) for paraoxon-methyl, 86.6 (20.4) for phorate, 101 (16.5) for phorate sulfone, 93.6 (25.5) for phorate sulfoxide, and 98.2 (6.02) for 2,4-D.     

Determination of pesticide residues (> 0.5 microg/L) in soft drinks and sports drinks by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry: collaborative study

A collaborative study was conducted on a method for the measurement of 19 low-level pesticide residues in soft drinks and sports drinks by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The pesticide residues determined were 2,4'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (2,4'-DDE); 2,4'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (2,4'-DDD); 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (4,4'-DDE); 2,4'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (2,4'-DDT); 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (4,4'-DDT); 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (4,4'-DDD); alpha-endosulfan; endosulfan-sulfate; dieldrin; aldrin; ethion; chlorpyrifos; beta-endosulfan; malathion; methyl-parathion; alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-HCH); beta-HCH; delta-HCH; and gamma-HCH. Blind fortification solutions containing 4 different levels of pesticide residues (0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 microg/L) were provided to 8 collaborating laboratories who used them to create test samples in 6 matrixes (also provided): 2 colas, a diet cola, a clear lemon-lime soft drink, an orange soft drink, and a sports drink. Reproducibility (RSDR) for all 19 pesticide residues in all matrixes ranged from 7 to 151% at the 0.1 microg/L level, 11 to 121% at 0.5 microg/L, and 14 to 67% at 1.0 microg/L. Repeatability (RSDr), applicable to the diet cola and the sports drink, ranged from 1 to 76% for the 19 pesticide residues at the 0.1 microg/L level, 9 to 38% at 0.5 microg/L, and 9 to 38% at 1.0 microg/L. Recoveries for the 19 pesticide residues in all matrixes ranged from 77 to 645% at the 0.1 microg/L level, 60 to 231% at 0.5 microg/L, and 61 to 146% at 1.0 microg/L. It is recommended that the method be accepted by AOAC as Official First Action with a limit of quantification (LOQ) equal to 0.5 microg/L for 4,4'-DDT; 2,4'-DDT; 2,4'-DDD; 4,4'-DDE; 4,4'-DDD; 2,4'-DDE; aldrin; dieldrin; alpha-endosulfan; endosulfan-sulfate; chlorpyrifos; and ethion, and an LOQ equal to 1.0 microg/L for beta-endosulfan; alpha-HCH; beta-HCH; delta-HCH; gamma-HCH; methyl-parathion; and malathion.     

Development and validation of a multiresidue method for the simultaneous determination of organophosphorus insecticides and their toxic metabolites in sugarcane juice and refined sugar by gas chromatography with flame photometric detection

A multiresidue method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of organophosphorus insecticides and their toxic metabolites in sugarcane juice and refined sugar by gas chromatography with flame photometric detection. Limits of quantification of the method varied between 0.007 and 0.01 μg/g. Ethyl acetate based extraction followed by dispersive solid‐phase extraction cleanup with primary secondary amine yielded internationally acceptable recoveries of acephate, chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, monocrotophos, malathion, malaoxon, phorate, phorate‐sulfoxide, phorate‐oxon, phorate‐sulfone, and quinalphos from selected matrices. The recoveries of target analytes from cane juice were 75.55 ± 0.5–102.57 ± 4.2, 77.45 ± 4.7–103.33 ± 3.3, and 80.55 ± 6.6–105.82 ± 9.8% at 0.01, 0.02, and 0.1 μg/g levels of fortification, respectively. The recoveries from cane sugar were 73.24 ± 3.5–104.47 ± 1.9, 75.23 ± 1.5–116.10 ± 3.7, and 70.75 ± 5.7–110.15 ± 2.7%, respectively at 0.01, 0.02, and 0.1 μg/g levels of fortification. Matrix effect and measurement uncertainty were within the permissible limit (less than 20%) as prescribed for pesticide residue analysis.     

Degradation study of selected organophosphorus insecticides in natural waters

The degradation of 15 organophosphorus insecticides was studied in drinking, ground, and surface waters under different laboratory-controlled and environmental conditions. Surface waters originated from rivers Savinja (near the city of Celje) and Kamniska Bistrica (at the spring), which both belong to the Danube river basin. Groundwater was collected from wells (70?m deep) in Ljubljana, which are the direct source of drinking water for the capital. These matrices were selected on the basis of their different chemical composition and microbial activity. Major factors influencing the degradation were determined, such as temperature, oxygen, sunlight, pH, and type of water. The degradation of atrazine, present in many water sources in Slovenija, was followed simultaneously as a reference under the same conditions. The degradation kinetics was followed by gas chromatography with mass-selective detection, which also allowed the identification of some degradation by-products, such as oxon analogues paraoxon, dyfoxon, malaoxon, phenyl-methyl sulfoxide, fenthion sulfone, phorate sulfoxide, and phorate sulfone. The results show that the half-lives of the selected organophosphorus insecticides varied from 4 to 192 days or more, depending on the water source and experimental conditions. As a result, kinetically constants and half-lives were calculated for every tested insecticide, and major degradation products were determined.     

Dissipation behavior of phorate and its toxic metabolites in the sandy clay loam soil of a tropical sugarcane ecosystem using a single‐step sample preparation method and GC–MS

The dissipation of phorate in the sandy clay loam soil of tropical sugarcane ecosystem was studied by employing a single‐step sample preparation method and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. The limit of quantification of the method was 0.01 μg/g. The recoveries of phorate, phorate sulfoxide, phorate sulfone, and phorate oxon were in the range 94.00–98.46% with relative standard deviations of 1.51–3.56% at three levels of fortification between 0.01 and 0.1 μg/g. The Half‐life of phorate and the total residues, which include phorate, phorate sulfoxide and phorate sulfone, was 5.5 and 19.8 days, respectively at the recommended dose of insecticide. Phorate rapidly oxidized into its sulfoxide metabolite in the sandy clay loam soil. Phorate sulfoxide alone accounted for more than 20% of the total residues within 2 h post‐application and it was more than 50% on the fifth day after treatment irrespective of the doses applied. Phorate sulfoxide and phorate sulfone reached below the detectable level on 105 and 135 days after treatment, respectively as against 45 days after treatment for phorate residues at the recommended dose. Thus, the reasonably prolonged efficacy of phorate against soil pests may be attributed to longer persistence of its more toxic sulfoxide and sulfone metabolites.     

Determination of low-level agricultural residues in soft drinks and sports drinks by gas chromatography with mass-selective detection: single-laboratory validation

In this study, sponsored by PepsiCo Inc., a method was validated for measurement of 19 pesticide residues in soft drinks and sports drinks by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with mass selective detection The pesticide residues determined in this validation were alpha-benzenehexachloride (BHC); beta-BHC; gamma-BHC; delta-BHC; methyl parathion; malathion; chlorpyrifos; aldrin; 2,4-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE); alpha-endosulfan; 4,4-DDE; 2,4-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD); dieldrin; ethion; 4,4-DDD; 2,4-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethylene (DDT); beta-endosulfan; 4,4-DDT; and endosulfan sulfate when spiked into a 200 mL matrix sample at 0.50 microg/L. The samples were diluted with acetonitrile and water, then liquid-liquid phase extracted into petroleum ether. The resulting extract was concentrated to near dryness and diluted with hexane:dichloromethane (50:50). The concentrated samples were purified by gel permeation chromatography. The resulting solution was concentrated and separated on a Florisil substrate. The eluent was concentrated to near dryness, reconstituted to produce a 200-fold concentration, and analyzed using a GC/MS instrument operated in the selective ion monitoring mode. The GC/MS instrument was equipped with a large volume injector capable of injecting 25 microL. External standards prepared in dichloromethane were used for quantification without the need for matrix-matched calibration because the extraction step minimized the matrix effects. The calibration curves for all agricultural residues had coefficients of determination (r2) of greater than or equal to 0.9900, with the exception of one value that was 0.988. Fortification spikes at 0.50 microg/L in 3 matrixes (7UP, Gatorade, and Diet Pepsi) over the course of 2 days (4 days for Gatorade), where n=8 each day, yielded average percent recoveries (and percent relative standard deviations) as follows (n=64): 95.6 (24.8) for alpha-BHC; 91.9 (23.6) for beta-BHC; 89.1 (21.3) for gamma-BHC; 91.7 (19.0) for delta-BHC; 96.2 (20.1) for methylparathion; 99.8 (26.5) for malathion; 120 (27.3) for chlorpyrifos; 103 (31.4) for aldrin; 111 (25.8) for 2,4-DDE; 116 (21.1) for alpha-endosulfan; 132 (34.6) for 4,4-DDE; 123 (34.4) for 2,4-DDD; 104 (20.8) for dieldrin; 141 (31.4) for ethion; 107 (24.5) for 4,4-DDD; 142 (29.2) for 2,4-DDT; 130 (35.9) for beta-endosulfan; 146 (25.3) for 4,4-DDT; and 91.5 (21.6) for endosulfansulfate.     

气相色谱法测定土壤中酰胺类除草剂

建立了从土壤中同时提取甲草胺、乙草胺和丁草胺并采用气相色谱法测定的分析方法。采用丙酮-石油醚(2:1,V/V)为提取液,经弗罗里矽硅土固相萃取柱净化,超声30 min、振荡10 min。测定结果显示,甲草胺、乙草胺、丁草胺的保留时间分别为16.333,16.019,20.249 min;线性相关系数>0.9990;6个平行样品在0.10,0.50,0.90 mg/kg的添加水平回收率在84.9%~101.0%之间;对3种酸碱度不同的土壤样品进行了重复测定,得到相对标准偏差(RSD)在0.88%~4.3%之间。方法的检出限分别为甲草胺300 ng/kg,乙草胺400 ng/kg,丁草胺400 ng/kg。定量限分别为甲草胺3.3μg/kg,乙草胺3.9μg/kg,丁草胺3.9μg/kg。方法可同时检测土壤中甲草胺、乙草胺、丁草胺残留量。     

Application of solid-phase microextraction in the monitoring of priority pesticides in the Kalamas River (N.W. Greece)

A solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method was applied to an extended monitoring survey of priority pesticides for the European Union for a period of 12 months in water of the Kalamas River (Epirus region of northwestern Greece) in order to determine their concentrations and seasonal variations. Polydimethylsiloxane-coated fiber (100 microm) was used. The samples were screened using gas chromatography with flame thermionic detection. Detection was confirmed by gas chromatographymass spectroscopy. The most frequently detected pesticides were some of the more commonly used herbicides, such as S-ethyl-N,N-di-n-propylthiol carbamate (EPTC), trifluralin, atrazine, deethylatrazine, terbuthylazine and alachlor, and insecticides, such as carbofuran, diazinon, disulfoton, parathion methyl, parathion ethyl, fenthion and ethion. Concentrations of individual compounds ranged from 0.020 to 0.3 microg/L. Greater pesticide concentrations occurred during the seasons of application. A comparison with a well-established solid-phase extraction (C18 disks) procedure was performed for samples of high-season application (May-September) in order to confirm the effectiveness of the SPME technique. The results demonstrate the suitability of the SPME method for routine screening multiresidue analysis in natural waters.     

大葱中25种有机磷农药多残留的微波净化-气相色谱测定

采用微波净化去除大葱中硫醚干扰、气相色谱-火焰光度检测(GC-FPD)实现了大葱基质中25种有机磷农药多残留的快速检测。25种有机磷的加标回收率为85.2%~119.6%,相对标准偏差为2.1%～14.8%。大多数农药在0.1～5.0 mg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数不低于0.9910,检出限为0.025~0.200 mg/L。     

On the signal response of various pesticides in electrospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization depending on the flow-rate of eluent applied in liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

The API-MS signal response of several pesticides (atrazine, simazine, isoproturon, diuron, chlorfenvinphos, chlorpyrifos, alachlor, trifluralin) depending on the flow-rate of eluent entering the MS interface was investigated. The investigations were based on API-MS-MS analyses of standard pesticide mixtures in the flow injection mode (FIA) at systematically varied eluent flow-rates using both an ESI interface (Turboionspray) and a heated nebulizer type APCI source. In the result, the individual compounds included in this study showed significant differences in their signal response behaviour depending on the flow-rate of eluent applied. The most hydrophobic compounds among the investigated pesticides (chlorpyrifos and trifluralin) showed drastic losses of sensitivity with increasing eluent flow-rate in both ESI and APCI, while more hydrophilic compounds like atrazine, simazine and isoproturon showed the expected signal response (concentration-sensitive in ESI, mass-flow-sensitive in APCI) at least within a certain range of flow-rates (200-600 microl/min in ESI, 200-2000 microl/min in APCI). These findings lead to the conclusion that application of a programmed HPLC eluent flow-rate may be advantageous to achieve maximum sensitivity of API-MS detection for all pesticides of interest. This is exemplified by the implementation of a flow gradient into an online SPE-HPLC-APCI-MS/MS method for improved analysis of pesticides in drinking water.     

Simultaneous determination of benzimidazoles and their metabolites in plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry: application to pharmacokinetic studies in rabbits

An HPLC/MS/MS method was developed for the simultaneous determination of the following benzimidazole anthelmintics and metabolites in plasma: flubendazole, albendazole, fenbendazole, mebendazole, thiabendazole, hydrolyzed flubendazole, albendazole sulfoxide, albendazole sulfone, albendazole aminosulfone, oxfendazole, fenbendazole sulfone, aminomebendazole, hydroxymebendazole, and 5-hydroxythiabendazole. The sample preparation process involved a pH-dependent extraction of the analytes. Chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 column with a mobile phase gradient starting with methanol-water (20 + 80, v/v) containing 0.1% formic acid. The overall average recoveries of the analytes based on a matrix-matched calibration ranged from 75.0 to 120.0%, with RSD values of <20.0%. The LODs ranged from 0.08 to 2.0 microg/kg and the LOQs from 0.3 to 5.0 microg/kg. The validated method was used in pharmacokinetic studies of benzimidazole compounds in rabbits, and the elimination of the metabolites was measured quantitatively.     

Immunoaffinity chromatographic method for the detection of pesticides

An immunoaffinity chromatographic (IC) method for the determination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and atrazine was developed. The sensitivity was 1 and 0.1 μg l⁻¹ for 2,4-D and atrazine, respectively, the relative standard deviation was in the range 3–8% and the total assay time per samples was 10 min. IC was combined with three detection systems: spectrophotometric, chemiluminescence and fluorescence. The whole procedure can be fully automated and applied to the quasi-continuous control of pesticide contamination and a rapid assay under out-of-laboratory conditions.     

Development of methods for determination of the residues of 15 pesticides in medicinal herbs Isatis indigotica Fort. by capillary gas chromatography with electron capture or flame photometric detection

Two multiresidue methods were developed for the determination of 15 pesticides (organochlorines, organphosphorus compounds, pyrethroids, and fungicides) in medicinal herbs Isatis indigotica Fort. and its formulations. The analytical procedure is based on ultrasonic assisted extraction and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE). After solvents were added, the raw material or granule sample was sonicated in an ultrasonic water bath and then centrifuged, filtered, and cleaned up by LLE. The infusion sample was extracted with petroleum ether by LLE. The pesticide residues were determined by capillary gas chromatography with electron-capture or flame photometric detection. Recoveries with the method at concentrations between 0.4 microg/kg and 10 mg/kg ranged from 70.2 to 119.5% for raw material, 73.2 to 105.1% for granule formulation, and 72.8 to 113.3% for infusion formulation. The relative standard deviation values were <20% for all of the pesticides studied. The pesticide detection limits were within the ranges 0.3-0.5 microg/L for endosulfan, 3-7.5 microg/L for pyrethroids, 0.7-32.5 microg/L for organophosphorus pesticides, and 0.1-0.6 microg/L for the other pesticides. The proposed methods are simple and rapid and provide simultaneous determination of pesticide residues in Isatis indigotica Fort. with acceptable recoveries and repeatability and an adequate limit of determination.     

Detection and Risk Assessments of Multi-Pesticides in Traditional Chinese Medicine Chuanxiong Rhizoma by LC/MS-MS and GC/MS-MS

With the internationalization of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) and the increasing use of herbal medicines around the world, there are concerns over their safety. In recent years, there have been some sporadic reports of pesticide residues in Chuanxiong Rhizoma (CX), although the lack of systematic and comprehensive analyses of pesticide residues and evaluations of toxicological risks in human health has increased the uncertainty of the potential effects of pesticides exposure in humans. This study aimed to clarify the status of pesticide residues and to determine the health risks of pesticide residues in CX. The findings of this study revealed that 99 batches of CX samples contained pesticide residues ranging from 0.05 to 3013.17 μg/kg. Here, 6–22 kinds of pesticides were detected in each sample. Prometryn, carbendazim, dimethomorph, chlorpyrifos, chlorantraniliprole, pyraclostrobin, and paclobutrazol were the most frequently detected pesticides, with detection rates of 68.69–100%. Insecticides and fungicides accounted for 43.23% and 37.84% of the total pesticides detected, respectively. Here, 86.87% of the pesticide content levels were lower than 50 μg/kg, and a small number of samples contained carbofuran, dimethoate, and isofenphos-methyl exceeding the maximum residue levels (MRLs). A risk assessment based on the hazard quotient/hazard index (HQ/HI) approach revealed that the short-term, long-term, and cumulative risks of pesticide residues in CX are well below the levels that may pose a health risk. Worryingly, six banned pesticides (carbofuran, phorate sulfone, phorate-sulfoxide, isofenphos-methyl, terbufos-sulfone, and terbufoxon sulfoxide) were detected. This study has improved our understanding of the potential exposure risk of pesticide multi-residues in CX. The results of the study will have a positive impact on improving the quality and safety of CX and the development of MRLs for pesticide residues.     

Atmospheric pressure glow discharge desorption mass spectrometry for rapid screening of pesticides in food

Flowing afterglow atmospheric pressure glow discharge tandem mass spectrometry (APGD-MS/MS) is used for the analysis of trace amounts of pesticides in fruit juices and on fruit peel. The APGD source was rebuilt after Andrade et al. (Andrade et al., Anal. Chem. 2008; 80: 2646-2653; 2654-2663) and mounted onto a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Apple, cranberry, grape and orange juices as well as fruit peel and salad leafs were spiked with aqueous solutions containing trace amounts of the pesticides alachlor, atrazine, carbendazim, carbofuran, dinoseb, isoproturon, metolachlor, metolcarb, propoxur and simazine. Best limits of determination (LODs) of pesticides in the fruit juices were achieved for metolcarb (1 microg/L in apple juice), carbofuran and dinoseb (2 microg/L in apple juice); for the analysis of apple skin best LODs were 10 pg/cm(2) of atrazine, metolcarb and propoxur which corresponds to an estimated concentration of 0.01 microg/kg apple, taking into account the surface area and the weight of the apple. The measured LODs were within or below the allowed maximum residue levels (MRLs) decreed by the European Union (1-500 microg/kg for pesticides in fruit juice and 0.01-5 microg/kg for apple skin). No sample pretreatment (extraction, pre-concentration, chromatographic separation) was necessary to analyze these pesticides by direct desorption/ionization using APGD-MS and to identify them using MS/MS. This makes APGD-MS a powerful high-throughput tool for the investigation of very low amounts of pesticides in fruit juices and on fruit peel/vegetable skin. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pesticide analysis in toasted barley and chickpea flours

Analytical potentiality of a modified version of the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) method has been studied and validated for the extraction of a group of 11 pesticides (ethoprophos, cadusafos, dimethoate, terbufos, disulfoton, chlorpyrifos‐methyl, fenitrothion, pirimiphos‐methyl, malathion, chlorpyrifos and fensulfothion) and some of their metabolites (malaoxon, disulfoton sulfoxide, terbufos sulfone and disulfoton sulfone) in toasted barley and chickpea flours. The method involves separation and quantification by gas chromatography (GC) with nitrogen phosphorus detection (NPD) using triphenylphosphate as the internal standard. Matrix‐matched calibration was carried out for both flours due to the existence of a matrix effect. Linearity, recovery, precision and accuracy studies of the proposed QuEChERS‐GC‐NPD method were evaluated in each sample matrix. Mean recovery values were in the range of 73–118% with relative standard deviation values below 10%. Limits of detection of the whole method were between 0.07 and 57.39 μg/kg. The method was finally applied for the analysis of 14 samples collected in different zones of the Tenerife island. The residues of pirimiphos‐methyl were found in 13 of them, confirming its unequivocal presence by mass spectrometry.     

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.     

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.     

Factors affecting multiresidue determination of priority herbicides when using solid-phase microextraction

A solid-phase microextraction (SPME) procedure was developed for the determination of 10 selected organonitrogen herbicides (s-ethyl dibropylthiocarbamate [EPTC], molinate, propachlor, trifluralin, simazine, atrazine, propazine, terbuthylazine, alachlor, and prometryn) and was tested with various natural waters. Gas chromatography coupled with flame thermionic and mass spectrometric detection was used for quantitation. For this purpose, polydimethylsiloxane and polyacrylate fibers were used and the factors affecting the SPME process such as pH, ionic strength, methanol content, memory effect, stirring rate, and adsorption-time profile were investigated and optimized. By using spiked liquid chromatography water, optimal factors were determined to be 25% salt, <0.5% methanol, stirring rate of 960 rpm, pH 4, and an equilibrium time of 30 min. These conditions were used in further studies of the fibers and in analysis of natural water samples. The method was applied to spiked natural waters such as ground water, sea water, lake water, and river water at a concentration range of 0.5-10 microg/L. Limits of detection ranged from 5 to 90 ng/L, and precision ranged from 5 to 15% (as relative standard deviation), depending on the pesticide, fiber, and detector used. The recoveries of herbicides were 70.2-118.4%, and the average r2 values of the calibration curves were >0.99 for all analytes. The results demonstrate the suitability of the SPME method to determine these organonitrogen herbicides in various natural waters. River water samples originating from the Epirus region (Northwestern Greece) were analyzed to verify the performance of the optimized method by comparing the results obtained by SPME with those obtained by using conventional solid-phase extraction of the selected herbicides.     

Separation and determination of 2,4-D, dicamba and 2,4,5-T in tobacco by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis

A practical method for residue analysis of 2,4-D, dicamba and 2,4,5-T in baked tobacco leaves has been developed using nonaqueous CE (NACE). The herbicide residues of 2,4-D, dicamba and 2,4,5-T in tobaccos were extracted by ultrasonication with ethyl acetate, followed by a cleanup procedure with gel permeation chromatography. The separation of 2,4-D, dicamba and 2,4,5-T by NACE was optimized based on orthogonal experiment design with four factors at three levels. The optimal NACE condition was established with the running buffer of 40.0 mmol/L ammonium acetate in 90% CH3CN (apparent pH 10.2), and the applied voltage of -25 kV over a capillary of 50 microm id x 46 cm (37.5 cm to the detector window), which gave a baseline separation of 2,4-D, dicamba and 2,4,5-T within 15 min. The LOD were ca. 0.4-0.6 microg/mL for the three herbicides, whereas the overall recovery ranged from 80.8 to 84.1%. The proposed method has been successfully applied to measure 300 real tobacco samples, and the residue profiles of the three herbicides in tobacco samples were obtained and evaluated.