A rapid and sensitive HPLC procedure for the determination of atrazine residues in soil-water extracts.
An automated procedure is described for the rapid determination of the residual herbicide atrazine at ppb levels in soil-water extracts. The system consists of an autosampler connected to a C18 precolumn linked via a switching valve to a C18 analytical column and spectrophotometer. Peak height is superior to peak area for quantifying results with coefficients of variation of 0.48% and 0.89%, respectively, for 7.5 ng standard injections. Precolumn concentration eliminates the need for sample cleanup and achieves up to a 37% increase in peak height compared to an isocratic system. In a black earth soil, atrazine is identified as the principal phytotoxic constituent. The minimum detectable level is one-tenth the critical no-effect threshold for wheat. The method is well suited for predicting possible atrazine injury to susceptible crops and the measurement of other nonpolar analytes in aqueous solution.
D001280:Atrazine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D001322:Autoanalysis; D002708:Chlorella / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis*; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*
D010573:Pesticide Residues; D012987:Soil; D014867:Water; D001280:Atrazine