Determination of glyphosate and its biodegradation products by chromatographic methods

Conditions were selected for the separation of the herbicide glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) and products of its microbiological utilization as N-acylated derivatives by ion-exchange liquid chromatography. The order of the elution of compounds on a Repro-Gel H column with UV detection correlates with their structures. The detection limits of the derivatives (wavelength 210 nm) are as follows (ng): glyphosate, 30; glycine and sarcosine, 20 and 43, respectively; aminomethylphosphonic acid, 45. The detection limit of methylphosphonic acid is 14 μg. Glyphosate and its biodegradation products were separated by thin-layer chromatography on plates with silica gel in the system isopropanol-5% aqueous ammonia solution (1: 1).