Recent advances in the extraction of triazine herbicides from water samples

Pesticides are excessively used in agriculture to improve the quality of crops by eliminating the negative effects of pests. Among the different groups of pesticides, triazine pesticides are a group of compounds that contain a substituted C₃ H₃ N₃ heterocyclic ring, and they are widely used. Triazine pesticides can be dangerous for humans as well as for the aquatic environment because of their high toxicity and endocrine disrupting effect. However, the concentration of these chemical compounds in water samples is low. Moreover, other compounds that may exist in the water samples can interfere with the determination of triazine pesticides. As a result, it is important to develop sample preparation methods that provide preconcentration of the target analyte and sufficient clean-up of the samples. Recently, a wide variety of novel microextraction and miniaturized extraction techniques (e.g., solid-phase microextraction and liquid-phase microextraction, stir bar sorptive extraction, fabric phase sorptive extraction, dispersive solid-phase extraction, and magnetic solid-phase extraction) have been developed. In this review, we aim to discuss the recent advances regarding the extraction of triazine pesticides from environmental water samples. Emphasis will be given to novel sample preparation methods and novel sorbents developed for sorbent-based extraction techniques.

Multivariate optimization of a combined static and dynamic supercritical fluid extraction method for trace analysis of pesticides pollutants in organic honey

The intensive application of pesticides to increase crop production has resulted in contamination of the agricultural products. Due to their occurrence at trace levels and the complexity of food samples, analysis of pesticide residues requires selective and efficient sample preparation methods. For this purpose, an extraction method based on supercritical carbon dioxide and acetonitrile as entrainer solvent was developed for trace analysis of atrazine, diazinon, chlorothalonil, and deltamethrin pesticides in honey samples. A Box-Behnken experimental design was applied to optimize extraction variables including static extraction time (5-15 min), pressure (200-700 bar), and temperature (45-70°C). The optimum extraction conditions were found to be 11.5 min static extraction time, 252 bar, and 70°C. The proposed analytical method showed a good linearity (≥0.998), low limit of detection (0.005-0.009 mg/kg), and good extraction recovery (74-111%). The precision study of the proposed method at two concentration levels of each pesticides, 0.25 and 1.0 mg/kg was found to be in the ranges of 2.3-4.21% for intraday (n = 3) and 3.93-8.02% for interday precisions (n = 3). The developed method is promising for use in trace analysis of pesticides in complex food samples including honey.

Effects of subchronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of the herbicide atrazine in the Neotropical fish Astyanax altiparanae

Atrazine (ATZ) is among the most widely used herbicides in the world, and yet it has a potential to contaminate aquatic environments due to pesticide leaching from agricultural areas. In the Neotropical region, studies about the effects of this herbicide in native aquatic wildlife is scarce.Our study aimed at investigating the effects of a 30-day exposure to a commercial atrazine formulation on oxidative stress parameters, histopathology in testis and liver, and hormone levels in males and female of yellow-tailed tetra fish (Astyanax altiparanae). Adults were exposed to low but environmentally relevant concentrations of atrazine as follows: 0 (CTL-control), 0.5 (ATZ0.5), 1 (ATZ1), 2 (ATZ2) and 10 (ATZ10) μg/L. Our results showed decreased GST activity in gills in all groups of exposed animals and increased CAT activity in gills from the ATZ10 group. In the liver, there was an increase in lipid peroxidation in fish from ATZ1 and ATZ2 groups. Histological analysis of the liver showed increased percentage of sinusoid capillaries in ATZ2 fish, increased vascular congestion in ATZ1 and increased leukocyte infiltration in the ATZ10 group. Hepatocyte diameter analysis revealed a decrease in cell size in all groups exposed to ATZ, and a decrease in hepatocyte nucleus diameter in ATZ1, ATZ2 and ATZ10 groups. Endocrine parameters did not show significant changes following ATZ exposure, although an increase of triiodothyronine/thyroxine (T₃/T₄) ratio was observed in ATZ2 fish. Our results provide evidence that even low, environmentally relevant concentrations of ATZ produced oxidative damage and histological alterations in adult yellow-tailed tetra.

A Simple Method for the Determination of Triazines from Seawater in Accordance with the Directive 2013/39/EU

Since the Directive 2013/39/EU included terbutryn to the list of priority substances of all water bodies, a previous method based on dispersive liquid-liquid micro-extraction (DLLME) for the determination of triazines in seawater has been modified. The main change consisted on the use of tandem mass spectrometry instead of diode array as detection technique. Due to the higher sensitivity of mass detector, sample volume was reduced and extraction solvent volume was optimized. The optimum extraction conditions were 5 mL of sample, 50 µL of 1-octanol and an agitation step instead of disperser solvent. The obtained analytical recoveries (73%-101% with relative standard deviations below 4%) meeting the requirements. The limits of quantification (between 0.016 and 0.021 µg L^-1) were more than 10 times lower than the limit set by the European Directive 2013/39/EU for terbutryn (0.34 µg L^-1). The proposed method was applied to the determination of the target compounds in seawater samples from A Coruña (Galicia, NW of Spain).

High Density Supercritical Carbon Dioxide for the Extraction of Pesticide Residues in Onion with Multivariate Response Surface Methodology

The excessive use of pesticides is a serious health problem due to their toxicity and bioaccumulation through the food chain. Due to the complexity of foods, the analysis of pesticides is challenging often giving large matrix effects and co-extracted compounds. To overcome this problem, a selective and “green” supercritical fluid extraction method was developed, using neat carbon dioxide as a solvent at pressures of up to 800 bars. A Box–Behnken response surface experimental design was used, with the independent variables of density (0.70−1.0 g mL⁻¹), temperature (40−70 °C), and volume (10−40 mL) of solvent, and the dependent variable of extracted amount of pesticides. The optimum extraction condition was found at the use of 29 mL of supercritical CO₂ at 0.90 g mL⁻¹ and 53 °C (corresponding to 372 bars of pressure). It was observed that increasing the density of CO₂ significantly increased the extraction recovery of endrin and 2,4′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane. Matrix-matched calibration curves showed satisfactory linearity (R² ≥ 0.994), and LODs ranged from 0.2 to 2.0 ng g⁻¹. Precision was lower than 11% and recoveries between 80%–103%. Thus, the developed method could efficiently be used for trace analysis of pesticides in complex food matrices without the use of organic solvents.

Vortex-assisted low density solvent and surfactant based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for sensitive spectrophotometric determination of cobalt

This study describes the development of vortex-assisted low density solvent and surfactant based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (VALS-DLLME) for Co(ii) prior to its spectrophotometric detection. The method consisted of the complexation of Co(ii) with pyrocatechol violet (PV) followed by the preconcentration of the Co(II)–PV complex using VALS-DLLME and then an absorption measurement at 600 nm. The optimum conditions for complex formation were a 1 : 3 mole ratio of Co(ii) and PV at pH 7.5, while the conditions for VALS-DLLME were 300 μL 1-dodecanol as extraction solvent, and 300 μL acetonitrile as dispersive solvent under a vortex for 20 s with the addition of cationic surfactant (0.02 mmol L⁻¹ CTAB). Under the optimum conditions, good linearity was in the range of 0.1–10 mg L⁻¹, the enrichment factor (EF) was 13.5 and the low limit of detection (LOD) was 0.04 mg L⁻¹. The method was applied to the analysis of Co(ii) in water, green leaf vegetable and vitamin B₁₂ samples. The proposed method provided good recoveries in the range of 86–104%, which were comparable to those obtained from flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

The formation of a Co(II)–PV complex and the VALS-DLLME procedure.

Hollow-Fibre-Supported Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction for Determination of Atrazine and Triclosan in Aqueous Samples

We report the application of the dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled to hollow-fibre membrane-assisted liquid-phase microextraction and its application for extraction of atrazine and triclosan. Under optimum conditions, namely, 25 μL of a 1 : 4 chlorobenzene : ethyl acetate mixture dispersed in 1 mL of aqueous sample, 10% (m/v) NaCl, a magnetic stirrer speed at 600 rpm, and 10 minutes' extraction time with toluene-filled fibre as the acceptor phase, the method demonstrates sufficient figures of merit. These include linearity (R² ≥ 0.9975), intravial precision (%RSD ≤ 7.6), enrichment factors (127 and 142), limits of detection (0.0081 and 0.0169 µg/mL), and recovery from river water and sewerage (96–101%). The relatively high detection limits are attributed to the flame ionization detector which is less preferred than a mass spectrometer in trace analyses. This is the first report of a homogenous mixture of the dispersed organic solvent in aqueous solutions and its employment in extraction of organic compounds from aqueous solutions. It therefore adds yet another candidate in the pool of miniaturised solvent microextraction techniques.

Assessment of pesticide residues and gene expression in common carp exposed to atrazine and chlorpyrifos: Health risk assessments

This study assessed the impacts of atrazine (ATR), chlorpyrifos (CPF) and combined ATR/CPF exposure on the kidney of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). The carp were sampled after a 40-d exposure to CPF and ATR, individually or in combination, followed by a 40-d recovery to measure the expression levels of heat shock proteins genes (HSP60, HSP70 and HSP90) and pesticide residues in the kidney tissue. The results revealed that the mRNA and protein levels of HSP60, HSP70 and HSP90 were induced in the kidney of common carp by ATR, CPF, and ATR/CPF mixture. The accumulated amounts of ATR, CPF, and their metabolites in the kidney tissues exhibited dose-dependency. These results exhibited that increasing concentration of ATR and CPF in the environment causes considerable stress for common carp, suggesting that the expression levels of HSP60, HSP70 and HSP90 may act as potential biomarkers for assessing the environmental ATR and CPF risk for carp.

An environmentally friendly method for the determination of triazine herbicides in estuarine seawater samples by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction

A fast, simple, sensitive and green chemistry method using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) for the simultaneous determination of seven triazine herbicides (ametryn, atrazine, cyanazine, propazine, simazine, simetryn and terbuthylazine) in estuarine seawater samples has been developed. DLLME was carried out using a small volume of seawater (25 mL) and 300 μL of 1-octanol. Herbicide concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography-diode array detection, and results were confirmed by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation tandem spectrometry analysis. The analytical features of the proposed method were satisfactory with repeatability < ±5% and intermediate precision < ±10%, and recoveries ranged from 81-102% for all compounds. All the triazines exhibited linear matrix calibration curves with coefficients of determination >0.999 for all the analytes except for simazine (0.9975). Limits of quantification ranged between 0.19 and 1.12 μg L(-1). The method was applied to the analysis of seawater samples from ten points susceptible to contamination by triazines from estuary of A Coruña (Galicia, NW of Spain). The levels of the seven triazines were below the LODs in the analysed samples. Use of proposed method will allow for monitoring of triazines at levels below the regulatory limits set by the European Directive 2008/105/EC of 2 and 4 μg L(-1) for atrazine and simazine, respectively.

Application of a developed method for the extraction of triazines in surface waters and storage prior to analysis to seawaters of Galicia (northwest Spain)

A simple method based on solid-phase extraction combined with liquid chromatography for simultaneous determination of nine triazine herbicides (ametryn, atrazine, cyanazine, prometryn, propazine, simazine, simetryn, terbuthylazine, and terbutryn) in surface water samples was developed and validated. Under optimized conditions, 50 mL of water sample was pumped through the Oasis HLB cartridge, and triazines were eluted with 3 mL acetone. Finally the extract was concentrated to dryness, reconstituted with 1 mL methanol : water (1 : 1) and injected into the HPLC-DAD system. The stability of the herbicides on the cartridges at −18 and 4°C was also evaluated, and the recoveries obtained after three weeks of storage were satisfactory for all compounds. The analytical features of the proposed method were satisfactory: repeatability and intermediate precision were <10% and recoveries in spiked river water and seawater samples were higher than 93% for all compounds studied. Limits of quantification (varied from 0.46 to 0.98 µg L⁻¹) were adequately allowing the determination of these compounds at the levels requested by the 2008/105/EC Directive. Finally, this method was applied to the analysis of 50 seawater samples from Galicia (northwest Spain).