Simultaneous determination of alachlor, bifenox and nitrofen as herbicides in lake, municipal wastewater and soil samples by gas chromatography mass spectrometry

Abstract

The benefits derived from pesticide usage are a worldwide phenomenon which has helped prevent food shortages and prevented deadlydiseases. However, negative effects that have resulted from these very same chemicals has led to regulations and bans on some of them.This study was aimed at simultaneously determining three herbicides in lake, wastewater and soil samples by gas chromatography massspectrometry. The samples selected are very commonly contaminated by pesticide production and application, and they are importantenvironmental resources that need to be preserved. The figures of merits determined for the analytes were appreciable. None of theanalytes were detected in the samples (according to limits of detection) and spiked recovery tests were therefore performed to ascertainthe amount of analytes that can be determined when present in the samples. The percent recoveries calculated for lake and wastewaterspiked at two concentrations ranged between 90 – 104%. The spiked soil sample was extracted with acetonitrile and a blank soil extractwas used to prepare matrix matched calibration standards. The percent recovery obtained using the matrix matching standards rangedbetween 92% and 99% for the three analytes.