Determination of phenylurea herbicides in aqueous samples using partitioned dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction

Partitioned dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (PDLLME), using THF as the dispersive solvent and dichloromethane as the extraction solvent, was utilized to isolate and concentrate phenylurea herbicides (PUHs) from aqueous samples. In PDLLME, a dispersive solvent should be able to partition in the organic extractant droplets to effectively extract the polar organic compounds from aqueous samples. The mixture of the water-immiscible extractant and the partitioned dispersive solvent was obtained by centrifugation, dried under low pressure, reconstituted in methanol-water mixture (1:1), and injected into a HPLC system for the determination of PUHs. The enrichment factors of the PUHs ranged from 68 to 126 under the optimal conditions. The linear range was 0.5-100 ng ml⁻¹ for each analyte, the relative standard deviations of PUHs were in the range of 1.5-5.9% (n = 5), and the detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio of 3) ranged from 0.10 to 0.28 ng ml⁻¹ for the herbicides. The range of intraday precision (n = 5) for PUHs at the levels of 0.5, 5, and 50 ng ml⁻¹ were 3.0-5.9%, 1.8-3.3%, and 2.2-3.6%, respectively. The range of interday precision (n = 5) at 0.5, 5, and 50 ng ml⁻¹ were 0.4-1.8%, 1.2-2.4%, and 0.9-2.3%, respectively. The recoveries of PUHs from three spiked river water samples, at a level of 10 ng ml⁻¹, were 91.2-104.1%. Due to its rapidity, ease of operation, and high recovery, PDLLME can be utilized to isolate and concentrate organic environmental contaminants such as PUHs from aqueous samples.     

Rapid method for determination of phenylurea herbicides in milk

Summary A method has been developed for the determination of thirteen phenylurea herbicide residues in milk. It involves one-step solvent extraction of the milk with methanol by ultrasonication. The extract is cleaned up on an Amberchrom resin cartridge. Reversed-phase, gradient elution, high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection at 242 nm is used to analyse the residues. The recovery of thirteen phenylurea pesticides is quantitative, ranging from 71.4% to 97.9% for the individual herbicides investigated at concentrations around 0.05 mg kg^–1 and from 65.1% to 95.6% around 0.005 mg kg^–1. The method is not associated with any of the emulsion problems common to conventional solvent extraction, which considerably reduce the sample clean-up process compared with existing methods.     

Multiresidue analysis of phenylurea herbicides in environmental waters by capillary electrophoresis using electrochemical detection

A rapid multiresidue method has been developed for the analysis of seven phenylurea herbicides in the presence of two s-triazines in environmental waters. A simple end-column electrochemical detector was used in combination with a commercially-available capillary electrophoresis instrument with UV detection. The determination of phenylurea pesticides using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography with electrochemical detection represents the first such determination that has been reported. In both detection systems, linear ranges were obtained for the seven phenylurea herbicides at concentrations lower than 2.0×10^–5 mol l^–1, in 0.020 mol l^–1 phosphoric acid at pH 7.0 and containing 0.020 mol l^–1 of sodium dodecylsulfate, in order to obtain selectivity in the additional separation by a micellar distribution process. Under these conditions a detection limit lower than 5.0×10^–6 mol l^–1 (0.25 pmol of pesticide) was achieved for most of them. The pesticides were resolved in less than 30 min.     

Analysis of phenylurea and propanil herbicides by solid-phase microextraction and liquid chromatography combined with post-column photochemically induced fluorimetry derivatization and fluorescence detection

This study examines the application of solid-phase microextraction coupled with high performance liquid chromatography combined with post-column photochemically induced fluorimetry derivatization and fluorescence detection (SPME-HPLC-PIF-FD) for the determination of four phenylurea herbicides (monolinuron, diuron, linuron and neburon) and propanil in groundwater. Direct immersion (DI) SPME was applied using a 60 μm polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fiber for the extraction of the pesticides from groundwater samples. An AQUASIL C₁₈ column (150 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm) was used for separation and determination in HPLC. The method was evaluated with respect to the limits of detection (LODs) and the limits of quantification (LOQs) according to IUPAC. The limits of detection varied between 0.019 μg L⁻¹ and 0.034 μg L⁻¹. Limits of quantification ranged between 0.051 μg L⁻¹ and 0.088 μg L⁻¹. These values meet the recommended limits for individual pesticides in groundwater (0.1 μg L⁻¹) established by the EU. Recoveries ranged between 86% and 105% and relative standard deviation values between 2% and 8%.     

Simultaneous HPLC determination of phenylurea herbicides and their corresponding anilines in water after on-line preconcentration

On-line preconcentration on a short C₁₈ column, prior to HPLC with UV and electrochemical detection, has been used for determination of some phenylurea herbicides and their possible degradation products, substituted anilines, in water samples. With electrochemical detection the detection limit at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 was 5 ppt for 4-chloroaniline and 4-bromoaniline and 7 ppt for 3,4-dichloroaniline; with UV detection the detection limit was ca 300 ppt for all analytes.     

Clean up of phenylurea herbicides in plant sample extracts using molecularly imprinted polymers

Two different molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared by precipitation polymerization using linuron or isoproturon (phenylurea herbicides) as templates and trifluormethacrylic acid as functional monomer. These materials were used as selective sorbents in the development of molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) procedures for the determination of several phenylurea herbicides (fenuron, metoxuron, chlortoluron, isoproturon, metobromuron, and linuron) in plant samples extracts. The MISPE procedures were fully optimized and applied to the clean up of selected phenylurea herbicides in carrot, potato, corn, and pea sample extracts and finally determined by HPLC-UV at 244 nm. Although a high degree of clean up was obtained, a decrease of the MIP recognition capabilities was observed in subsequent runs. Thus, a previous clean up protocol based on the use of a non-imprinted polymer was used to prevent the loss of MIP performance and to ease the removal of interferences. Following this procedure, namely two-step MISPE, matrix compounds were almost completely removed by the non-imprinted polymer retaining the ability of MIPs to selectively rebind target analytes unaltered. The developed MISPE procedures allowed the screening of phenylurea herbicides in plant samples at concentration levels required by established European maximum residue limits.     

Metal-organic framework-templated synthesis of magnetic nanoporous carbon as an efficient absorbent for enrichment of phenylurea herbicides

Nanoporous carbon with a high specific surface area and unique porous structure represents an attractive material as an adsorbent in analytical chemistry. In this study, a magnetic nanoporous carbon (MNC) was fabricated by direct carbonization of Co-based metal-organic framework in nitrogen atmosphere without using any additional carbon precursors. The MNC was used as an effective magnetic adsorbent for the extraction and enrichment of some phenylurea herbicides (monuron, isoproturon, diuron and buturon) in grape and bitter gourd samples prior to their determination by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Several important experimental parameters that could influence the extraction efficiency were investigated and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, a good linearity was achieved in the concentration range of 1.0–100.0 ng g⁻¹ for monuron, diuron and buturon and 1.5–100.0 ng g⁻¹ for isoproturon with the correlation coefficients (r) larger than 0.9964. The limits of detection (S/N = 3) of the method were in the range from 0.17 to 0.46 ng g⁻¹. The results indicated that the MNC material was stable and efficient adsorbent for the magnetic solid-phase extraction of phenylurea herbicides and would have a great application potential for the extraction and preconcentration of more organic pollutants from real samples.     

Evaluation of new selective molecularly imprinted polymers prepared by precipitation polymerisation for the extraction of phenylurea herbicides

Three different molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been prepared by precipitation polymerisation using linuron (LIN) or isoproturon (IPN) (phenylurea herbicides) as templates and methacrylic acid (MAA) or trifluormethacrylic acid (TFMAA) as functional monomers. The ability of the different polymers to selectively rebind not only the template but also other phenylurea herbicides has been evaluated. In parallel, the influence of the different templates and functional monomers used during polymers synthesis on the performance of the obtained MIPs was also studied through different rebinding experiments. The experimental binding isotherms were fitted to the Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm allowing to describe the kind of binding sites present in the imprinted polymers under study. It was concluded that TFMAA-based polymer using IPN as template presents the best properties to be used as a selective sorbent for the extraction of phenylurea herbicides.     

Determination of phenylurea and triazine herbicides in milk by microwave assisted ionic liquid microextraction high-performance liquid chromatography

The determination of phenylurea and triazine herbicides in milk based on microwave assisted ionic liquid microextraction (MAILME) coupled with high-performance liquid chromatographic separation was described. The experimental parameters of the MAILE, including type and amount of ionic liquid, microwave extraction power, extraction time and salt concentration in sample, were evaluated by a univariate method and orthogonal screening. When 60 μL of [C₆MIM][PF₆] was used as extraction solvent the target compounds can be isolated from the 4 mL of milk. The MAILME is quick (7 min) and simple. The detection limits for isoproturon, monolinuron, linuron, propazine, prometryne, terbutryn and trietazine are 0.46, 0.78, 1.00, 1.21, 1.96, 0.84 and 1.28 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of milk samples and the recoveries of the analytes ranged from 88.4 to 117.9% and relative standard deviations were lower than7.43%.     

The influence of mercury(II) on the extraction efficiency of herbicides from water

In this work, the effect of Hg(II) on the extraction efficiency of triazine and phenylurea herbicides from water samples was tested. The results showed that in the presence of Hg(II), the recoveries of the s-triazine herbicides (except hexazinon) from styrene divinylbenzene (SDVB) cartridges were significantly reduced using acetonitrile as the elution solvent, whereas acidified methanol quantitatively eluted all the herbicides. Consequently, the loss in the recoveries was not due to degradation of the compounds but rather due to irreversible adsorption onto the resin. The adsorption is probably due to ternary complex formation between the compounds, Hg(II) and the polymeric resin. The chemical structure and the basicity of the compounds affected their interaction with Hg(II). When using octadecyl (C18) cartridges, only atraton was affected. Mercury did not affect the liquid–liquid extraction of the herbicides. The findings suggest that acidic methanol is a suitable elution solvent of s-triazines from mercury-loaded water samples.     

Gas chromatographic analysis of phenylurea herbicides following catalytic hydrolysis on silica gel

Summary A method is described for the rapid catalytic hydrolysis of phenylurea herbicides on silica gel at elevated temperatures. After derivatisation of the anilines produced with heptafluorobutyric acid anhydride final analysis is done on a gas chromatograph equipped with an electroncapture detector. Detection limits are in the 1–5 picogram range. The method has successfully been applied to residue analysis of water samples at the 1 ppb level. The determination of free anilines present in water samples and the potential of various techniques to be used to discriminate between free anilines and parent herbicides are also discussed.     

柱后紫外光解荧光衍生液相色谱法测定蔬菜中残留的15种苯脲除草剂

建立了蔬菜中15种苯脲除草剂残留的固相萃取-在线柱后紫外光分解和衍生化的高效液相色谱荧光检测分析方法。样品用乙腈提取,弗罗里硅土固相萃取柱净化,目标化合物由反相C18柱分离,经柱后紫外光分解和衍生化后进行荧光检测。对样品的前处理条件、液相色谱分离、柱后紫外光分解和衍生条件等进行了详细的研究。15种苯脲除草剂的高效液相色谱分离在乙腈-水梯度洗脱下完成,目标物的保留时间为9～31 min,线性范围内线性关系良好,相关系数为0.9986~1.0000;在洋葱、菠菜、黄瓜等样品中3个加标水平的平均回收率(n=3)为75.3%～121.6%,相对标准偏差为0.4%-11.6%;15种苯脲除草剂在蔬菜中的检出限为0.005～0.05 mg/kg。该方法操作简便、灵敏度高、选择性好,符合多种农药残留分析的要求。     

Determination of phenylureas herbicides in food stuffs based on matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction and capillary electrophoresis with electrochemiluminescence detection

A new method based on matrix solid phase dispersion-capillary electrophoresis with electrochemiluminescence detection (MSPD-CE-ECL) has been developed for the simultaneous determination of three kinds of phenylurea herbicides (PHUs). Poly-β-cyclodextrin (poly-β-CD) was used as an additive in the running buffer to improve the separation of three analytes. The conditions for CE separation, ECL detection and effect of poly-β-CD were investigated in detail. Under the optimal conditions, three kinds of herbicides (isoproturon, linuron and diuron) were well separated and detected within 8 min. The linear ranges of the standard solution for isoproturon and linuron were 1-300 μg L(-1) with a detection limit (S/N=3) of 0.1 μg L(-1), and for diuron was 2-500 μg L(-1) with a detection limit of 0.2 μg L(-1). The average recoveries were in the range of 86.9-102.8%, and all relative standard deviation of the migration time and the ECL intensity in intraday and interday were less than 9.0%. The proposed method was also applied to the determination of three kinds of herbicides in green vegetable and rice samples with recoveries in the range from 78.1 to 93.8%.     

基于混合固定相色谱柱的SPE-HPLC法检测环境水体中三嗪类除草剂

利用混合固定相色谱柱(Optimix SCX/C8)分析了8种三嗪类化合物,在0.01 mol/L乙酸钠缓冲溶液(pH4.2)-CH3CN(75：25,V/V)等度洗脱的流动相条件下,实现了利用液相色谱方法分离同分异构体敌草净和西草净,并对比了相同色谱条件下8种目标物在C8色谱柱上的分离效果;比较了PEP和C18固相萃...     

Separation and concentration of sulfonylurea herbicides in milk by ionic‐liquid‐based foam flotation solid‐phase extraction

The ultrasound‐assisted ionic liquid foam flotation solid‐phase extraction of sulfonylurea herbicides in milk was developed and validated. The proteins and lipids were isolated from the sample matrix by adding salt and adjusting the pH value. The target analytes eluted from the solid‐phase extraction cartridge were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Some experimental parameters, including the pH value of sample solution, amount of NaCl, ionic liquid type, extraction time, flow rate of carrier gas, flotation time, and solid‐phase extraction cartridge type were investigated and optimized. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the limits of detection for metsulfuron, pyrazosulfuron, chlorimuron‐ethyl, and nicosulfuron were 1.3, 0.6, 0.7, and 1.1 μg/L, respectively. When the present method was applied to the analysis of milk samples the recoveries of the analytes ranged from 84.3 to 105.2% and relative standard deviations were >5.7%.     

Automated sample preparation using supported liquid membranes for liquid chromatographic determination of sulfonylurea herbicides

Summary Sample preparation for determination of sulfonylurea herbicides in aqueous samples is investigated. The technique studied utilizes extraction and back extraction in an automated flow system and is coupled on-line to a liquid chromatographic system. The extraction unit consists of an immobilized liquid membrane, separating two aqueous phases. From the acidified donor phase the analytes are extracted into the organic solvent of the membrane. After traversing the membrane they are back extracted into an alkaline/neutral aqueous acceptor phase. They are trapped in the acceptor by dissociation, making them insoluble in the membrane.Studies of the sample preparation system concern factors like channel length of separators, distribution coefficients of analytes and use of a precolumn instead of loop for chromatographic injections. Effects of the internal diameter of the analytical column as well as the detection of the sulfonylurcas are investigated.     

Analysis of herbicides in water using temperature-responsive chromatography and an aqueous mobile phase

A simple and rapid method has been developed for herbicides in water using temperature-responsive liquid chromatography (LC) and a column packed with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm), a polymer anchored on the stationary-phase surface of modified silica. PNIPAAm reversibly changes its hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties in water in response to temperature. The method was used to determine five sulfonylurea and three urea herbicides. Separation was achieved with a 10 mM ammonium acetate (pH 3.0) isocratic aqueous mobile phase, and by changing the column temperature. The analytes were extracted from water by off-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) with an N-vinyl-pyrrolidone polymer cartridge. The average recoveries of the eight herbicides from spiked pure water, tap water and river water were 70-130% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of <10%. The limits of quantitation (LOQ) of the eight herbicides were between 1 and 4 microg l(-1).