Voltammetric analysis of the acaricide amitraz and its degradant, 2,4-dimethylaniline

Amitraz is a formamide acaracide used in the control of ticks and mites in livestock. An electrochemical method for the determination of total amitraz residues and its final breakdown product, 2,4-dimethylaniline, is presented. Cyclic voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode showed the irreversible oxidation of amitraz and of 2,4-dimethylaniline. A linear current response was obtained with an extrapolated limit of detection of 2 × 10⁻⁸ M for amitraz and 1 × 10⁻⁸ M for 2,4-dimethylaniline. The biological degradation of amitraz and subsequent formation of 2,4-dimethylaniline was readily monitored in spent cattle dip. Amitraz and 2,4-dimethylaniline was also monitored in milk and honey samples.