Solvolysis kinetic study and direct spectrofluorimetric analysis of the fungicide benomyl in natural waters

International audienceA direct spectrofluorimetric method for the quantitative analysis of benomyl in natural waters is described. Benomyl is an instable, fluorescent fungicide that mainly decomposes into carbendazim and n-butyl-isocyanate in organic and aqueous solutions. The kinetics of benomyl solvolysis reactions were investigated in organic solvents (methanol and acetonitrile) and in aqueous solvent systems, including β–cyclodextrin (β-CD), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC), cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), cetyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (CTAOH), Brij-700, Triton X-100 and water, at different pH and/or NaOH concentrations. The benomyl fluorescence signal was found to be quasi-completely stable in 10-2 M NaOH aqueous solution, various alkaline (10-2 M NaOH) organized media, β-CD neutral solution and Triton X-100 aqueous solutions of different pH. Based on these results, a direct spectrofluorimetric analytical method was developed for the determination of benomyl in 10-2 M NaOH aqueous solution and Triton X-100 solutions (pH7 and 10-2 M NaOH), with wide linear dynamic range (LDR) values of two to three orders of magnitude, very low limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values of, respectively, 0.002-0.5 ng/mL and 0.007-2.0 ng/mL, and small relative standard deviation (RSD) values of 0.2-1.7 %, according to the medium. This direct spectrofluorimetric method was applied to the evaluation of benomyl residues in natural waters, with satisfactory recovery values (87-94%).</p

High sensitivity on-site early warning system monitoring of pesticides by photo-induced fluorescence

This paper describes the prototype of an on-site High Sensitivity Early Warning Monitoring System, using Photo-Induced Fluorescence, for pesticide monitoring in natural waters (HSEWPIF). To obtain a high sensitivity, the prototype was designed with four main features. Four UV LEDs are used to excite the photoproducts at different wavelengths and select the most efficient one. Two UV LEDs are used simultaneously at each wavelength to increase the excitation power and then the fluorescence emission of the photoproducts. High-pass filters are used to avoid the saturation of the spectrophotometer and to increase the signal-to-noise ratio. The HSEWPIF prototype also employs UV absorption to detect any occasional increase of suspended and dissolved organic matter, which could disrupt the fluorescence measurement. The conception of this new experimental set-up is explained and described, then analytical applications are carried out online for the determination of fipronil and monolinuron. We obtained a linear calibration range from 0 to 3 μg mL−1 with limits of detection of 1.24 ng mL−1 for fipronil and 0.32 ng mL−1 for monolinuron. A mean recovery of 99.2% for fipronil and 100.9% for monolinuron show that the method is accurate, moreover a standard deviation of 1.96% for fipronil and 2.49% for monolinuron show that the method is repeatable. Compared to other methods for the determination of pesticides by photo-induced fluorescence, the HSEWPIF prototype has good sensitivity with better limits of detection, and good analytical performances. These results show that HSEWPIF can be used for monitoring pesticide in natural waters to protect industrial facilities against accidental contamination