Single-laboratory evaluation of EPA method 8080 for determination of chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in hazardous wastes

Method 8080, as published in the Second Edition of "Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste," EPA Manual SW-846, has been evaluated in a single-laboratory study. The Florisil procedure recommended in Method 8080 for sample cleanup does not separate organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Consequently, gas chromatographic analysis of OCPs on the packed column recommended in the method may result in false identifications or in no identifications at all when PCBs are present. Therefore, silica gel was substituted for Florisil, a capillary column was substituted for the packed column, and a sulfur cleanup procedure was incorporated in the method. The revised method was evaluated with samples spiked at 3 concentrations. Precision and accuracy indicate that the revised method can be reliably applied to the determination of OCPs and PCBs in liquid and solid matrixes. Detection limits for liquid matrixes range from 0.02 to 0.09 micrograms/L for OCPs and from 0.5 to 0.9 micrograms/L for PCBs. Detection limits for solid matrixes range from 1 to 6 micrograms/kg for OCPs and from 60 to 70 micrograms/kg for PCBs.     

Application of analytical standards in method development: selected chlorinated phenols and herbicides

Pure analytical standards are key components in the successful development of accurate analytical methods. When such compounds are unavailable commercially, a laboratory synthesis activity can provide such materials for use in method development. An example of such an approach is the synthesis of ethyl ethers of chlorinated phenols and ethyl esters of several phenoxy herbicides. Individual synthesis steps and the characterization of such materials are described. The use of such analytical standards in method development is vital for defining method characteristics. In addition, such materials are helpful in diagnosing chromatographic and mass spectral problems in the course of this work. Key mass spectral information including parent and daughter scans obtained from these analytical standards by using tandem mass spectrometry provide the basis for a new analytical method with increased sensitivity and specificity.     

Synthesis of dimethyl derivatives of imidazolinone herbicides: their use in efficient gas chromatographic methods for the determination of these herbicides

The dimethyl derivatives of imazaquin, imazapyr, imazmethapyr, imazethapyr, 2-[4,5 dihydro-1, 4-dimethyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-5-methoxymethyl- 3-pyridine carboxylic acid, 2-[4,5-dihydro-1,4 -dimethyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-4-methyl benzoic acid, and 2-[4,5-dihydro-1,4-dimethyl-4-(1-methyl ethyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-5-methyl benzoic acid were prepared and fully characterized. The availability of these derivatives has led to the development of efficient and multiresidue gas chromatographic methods for trace level analysis of imidazolinone herbicides in matrixes such as water, soybean, and soil.     

Availability of triazine herbicides in aged soils amended with olive oil mill waste

Amendments are frequently added to agricultural soils to increase organic matter content. In this study, we examined the influence of alperujo, an olive oil mill waste, on the availability of two triazine herbicides, terbuthylazine and atrazine, in two different sandy soils, one from Sevilla, Spain, and the other from Minnesota. The effect of aging on herbicide sorption and bioavailability was also studied. Soils were amended with alperujo at a rate of 3-5% (w:w) in laboratory studies. Apparent sorption coefficients for the triazine herbicides were calculated as the ratio of the concentrations of each herbicide sequentially extracted with water, followed by aqueous methanol, at each sampling time. These data showed greater sorption of terbuthylazine and atrazine in amended soils as compared to nonamended soils, and an increase in the amount of herbicide sorbed with increasing aging time in nonamended soils. The triazine-mineralizing bacterium Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP was used to characterize triazine bioavailability. Less mineralization of the herbicides by Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP was observed in soils amended with alperujo, as compared to the unamended soils, and, despite the increase in sorption with aging in unamended soils, herbicide mineralization also increased in this case. This has been attributed to Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP first using alperujo as a more readily available source of N as compared to the parent triazines. In summary, addition of alperujo to the soils studied was shown to increase triazine herbicides sorption and hence to reduce its availability and potential to leach.     

Dispersion number determination in waste stabilization ponds

The measurement and determination of the dispersion number in ponds is usually based on the one-dimensional diffusion equation. This paper shows that since the criterion underlying the application of this equation is not often satisfied, great error may be introduced in the determination of the dispersion number(d). The effect of this on the prediction of the bacteria reduction is also discussed.     

Comparison of analytical procedures for determination of soil sorption coefficients of some triazine herbicides

Abstract

The sorption behavior of three triazine herbicides: atrazine, metribuzin, and terbutryn was studied in two different soils. Three experimental procedures to determine the K_f values were assayed: the conventional batch equilibration method in which the sorbed concentration is calculated by difference from the change in solution concentration; an alternative mass balance equilibrium batch technique in which the solution and the sorbed phase concentration are measured directly; and the flow equilibration method in which a solution of known concentration was passed through a column of soil until the effluent reached the same concentration as the input solution. Four concentrations of each herbicide were selected and results were fitted to the linearized form of the Freundlich isotherm. Recovery of the herbicides was studied in soil and water samples using the same four concentrations employed in the sorption assays. Average recoveries ranged from 86 to 104% with standard deviations lower than 10%. The K_oc (mg^1–1/n kg^‐1 L^l/n) values obtained ranged from 43 to 87 for atrazine, 27 to 114 for metribuzin, and 355 to 505 for terbutryn. The exponents 1/n of the Freundlich adsorption isotherms were lower than unity, with only one exception, and varied from 0.72 to 0.86 for atrazine, 0.73 to 1.12 for metribuzin, and 0.76 to 0.99 for terbutryn. The solution method gave values of K_oc that were 1.25, 1.55, and 2.65 (average of both soils) times those of the mass balance method for terbutryn, atrazine and metribuzin, respectively. When adsorption was low, the mass balance calculation method is recommended if the batch equilibration method is used, since the solution method can produce a considerable overestimation of adsorption. The flow equilibration method produced similar values of adsorption than the mass balance batch equilibration method and it made the experimental procedure easier since pesticide solution concentration need not to be measured once the equilibration time has been determined to ensure that the equilibrium was reached.     

Collaborative study of the gravimetric method for the determination of mercury in chlorinated pesticide formulations.

The official first action AOAC gravimetric method for mercury, 6.C01-6.C03, and the official CIPAC titrimetric method, M2.3, were collaboratively studied by 4 CIPAC laboratories, using the same 4 samples analyzed by AOAC collaboration in 1972. Averages at the 3.7 and 3.4% level were the same by both methods whereas the CIPAC method produced, on the average, 4% higher results, all levels included. The AOAC method performs well in the presence of copper and chlorinated pesticides and is less complex to use than the present CIPAC method for mercury in these mixtures. The method has been adopted as official final action.     

肥料检测中喹钼柠酮溶液沉淀剂的有效性验证方法研究

建立了一种肥料检测中喹钼柠酮溶液沉淀剂的有效性验证方法。对磷酸二氢钾称样量、硝酸溶液的影响等方面进行了研究,确定了方法条件。采用验证方法分析磷酸二氢钾中五氧化二磷含量,与理论值(52.21%)进行比较,考虑测定的误差,分析结果小于 52.0%时,判定喹钼柠酮溶液失效。该方法精密度良好,准确度高,适用于肥料检测中喹钼柠酮溶液沉淀剂的有效性验证。     

A new method for dispersion number determination in waste stabilization pond

The paper presents a new method for the determination of the dispersion number in a waste stabilization pond. Requiring only the data on bacteria variation along the pond as input, this method is simple, accurate and economical compared with the conventional tracer study method. Its application in pond design and evaluation is also discussed.     

A multiresidue method for the determination of insecticides and triazine herbicides in fresh and processed olives

A simple, rapid, and low-cost gas chromatographic multiresidue method has been developed for the analysis of pesticide residues in raw and processed olives. This has been validated for 19 insecticides and triazine herbicides, covering a wide range of polarities. The method uses low-temperature precipitation to remove lipids and gives good cleanup for gas chromatography analysis with nitrogen phosphorus and electron capture detection. Recoveries are between 71 and 99%, with relative standard deviation values of 5-15%.     

Simplified fat extraction with sulfuric acid as cleanup procedure for residue determination of chlorinated hydrocarbons in butter

A new cleanup procedure is described for chlorinated hydrocarbon residues in butterfat. The method is based on the dropwise addition of H2SO4 to a fat solution column and continuous removal of the lipids and the acid. The cleanup of 0.25-2.0 g fat requires only 10-40 ml sulfuric acid and 12-17 ml petroleum ether. There is no need for any further cleanup step, solvent evaporation, or centrifugation. The method is easy to standardize and is suitable for automation. At least 30 fat samples can be cleaned up manually by one analyst in one day. Recoveries were complete (greater than 90%) for polychlorinated biphenyl compounds and for 13 chlorinated pesticides of 16 examined. The method was tested on chlorinated hydrocarbon residues in commercial butter and the results were compared with those obtained with the acetonitrile method. The versatility and limitations of the method were investigated by varying the sulfuric acid strength, initial fat solution concentration, and column dimensions.     

Preferential flow and aging of NAPL in the unsaturated soil zone of a hazardous waste site: implications for contaminant transport

Flow of non‐aqueous phase liquids (NAPL) in the unsaturated zone is thought to be driven by gravity with a dominant vertical flow direction, and lateral spreading to be limited to the gradient of the relative permeabilities. The effect of soil profile build‐up, preferential flow, aging, and groundwater level fluctuations is mostly neglected. The objective of our study was to check the effects of such processes on the fate of NAPL in the unsaturated soil zone. At a hazardous waste site, we conducted a field survey of the unsaturated soil zone and monitored the groundwater for a two year period. We conducted spatially resolved and depth dependent soil sampling and analysis and the evaluation of former ram and core drilling protocols. The samples were analyzed for the 16 EPA PAH and alkanes with GC‐MS and GC‐FID. ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy was used to assess structural changes of the NAPL phase. Flow of bulk NAPL along macropores and along preferential permeability structures, like sedimentation discontinuities, are the dominant transport pathways which cause large lateral spreading beyond those expected by the relative permeability gradient. Accumulation of NAPL was found at locations with abrupt textural changes and within the zone of capillary rise. Aging of NAPL results in the depletion in soluble and volatile compounds but also in oxidation and polymerization. It increases the chemical diversity and decreases the mobility of the NAPL. Thus, NAPL flow ceases much earlier than expected from the capillary forces. As chemical transformation is restricted to the NAPL water/air interface, a skin‐like thin film is formed which encapsulates and preserves the bulk NAPL from further hardening, limiting contaminant mass transfer from the NAPL to the aqueous phase.     

Scheme for validation of an analytical protocol: semiautomated Kjeldahl nitrogen determination

Definitive validation of an analytical protocol is not always possible. A scheme for performing an alternative type of validation is presented. The scheme is tested on a commonly used chemical procedure for assaying total nitrogen. This alternative validation scheme uses 5 approaches: tests of robustness to recovery of working standards, assay of fortified in-house control materials to assess recovery from typical material, prescribed means of measuring within-and between-batch precision of the assay of typical material, comparison with alternative assay procedures, and determination of analogous certified reference materials to enable calculation of total error. The scheme uses the results of the 5 approaches to obtain a performance profile for the assay. The scheme does not rely on involved statistical modeling or data treatment, yet provides the laboratory worker with a systematic approach to a within-laboratory validation of an analytical protocol.     

UPLC-MS/MS同时测定土壤中19种植物激素方法的建立和验证

[目的]本文旨在建立土壤中多种植物激素的提取及超高效液相色谱串联质谱法,并用此方法同时测定土壤中茉莉酸、吲哚-3-乙酸、反式玉米素,玉米素核苷、异戊烯基腺嘌呤、吲哚-3-丁酸、N6-异戊烯基腺嘌呤、独脚金内酯、玉米素、二氢玉米素核苷、吲哚-3-丙酸、吲哚-3-乙酸甲酯、二氢玉米素、吲哚-3-羧酸、茉莉酸甲酯、油菜素内酯、脱落酸、赤霉素、水杨酸共19种植物激素含量。[方法]以根标土壤为试验材料,采用异丙醇水甲酸(80∶19∶1,V/V/V)作为提取剂,经过超声、离心后得到植物激素提取液,提取液于常温条件下真空浓缩至干,采用甲醇进行复溶,得到植物激素待测液。采用Waters ACQUITYUPLC■HSST3色谱柱对19种植物激素进行分离,以0.30 mmol/L甲酸铵水溶液(含0.01%甲酸)作为流动相A和0.30 mmol/L甲酸铵乙腈(含0.01%甲酸)作为流动相B进行梯度洗脱,流速为0.3 mL/min,柱温为30℃;采用超高效液相色谱串联质谱,多反应监测离子模式进行定性定量分析,其中,茉莉酸、吲哚-3-乙酸、反式玉米素、玉米素核苷、异戊烯基腺嘌呤、吲哚-3-丁酸、N6-异戊烯基腺嘌呤、独脚金内酯、玉米素、二氢玉米素核苷、吲哚-3-丙酸、吲哚-3-乙酸甲酯、二氢玉米素、吲哚-3-羧酸、茉莉酸甲酯、油菜素内酯采用正离子模式扫描,脱落酸、赤霉素、水杨酸采用负离子模式扫描;采用外标法测定植物激素回收率。[结果]在本试验浓度范围内,上述19种植物激素浓度与对应峰面积的相关系数(r)均大于0.99,检出限介于0.02~1.06 ng/g之间,19种植物激素的加标回收率为70.2%~117%,相对标准偏差介于0.20%~7.3%之间。采用优化后的实验方法测定土壤中的植物激素,结果检测出吲哚-3-乙酸、吲哚-3-羧酸、吲哚-3-乙酸甲酯、水杨酸和独角金内酯5种植物激素,含量为0.55~5.79ng/g。[结论]本方法前处理不需要过夜浸提,加入二氯甲烷后,超声离心浓缩复溶后可直接进样检测,大大缩短了样品的前处理时间,超高效液相色谱串联质谱法操作简单,选择性好,灵敏度高,可实现土壤样品中多种植物激素的同时检测,为土壤中植物激素的深入研究提供了一种有效的研究方法。     

Electrospray liquid chromatography quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry determination of phenyl urea herbicides in water.

Phenyl urea herbicides were determined in water by electrospray quadrupole ion trap liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (ES-QIT-LC-MS). Over a wide concentration range [M - H](-) and MH(+) ions were prominent in ES spectra. At high concentrations dimer and trimer ions appeared, and sodium, potassium, and ammonium adducts also were observed. In the case of isopturon, source collision-induced dissociation (CID) fragmentation with low offset voltages increased the ion current associated with MH(+) and diminished dimer and trimer ion abundance. In the mass analyzer CID involved common pathways, for example, daughter ions of [M - H](-) resulted from loss of R(2)NH in N',N'-dialkyl ureas or loss of C(3)H(5)NO(2) (87 amu) in N'-methoxy ureas. A 2 mm (i.d.) x 15 cm C(18) reversed phase column was used for LC-MS with a linear methanol/water gradient and 0.5 mL/min flow rate. Between 1 and 100 pg/microg/L the response was highly linear with instrument detection limits ranging from <10 to 50 pg injected. Whereas the positive ES signal intensity was greater for each of the compounds except fluometuron, negative ion monitoring gave the highest signal-to-noise ratio. Analysis of spiked Colorado River water, a source high in total dissolved solids and total organic carbon, demonstrated that ES-QIT-LC-MS was routinely capable of quantitative analysis at low nanogram per liter concentrations in conjunction with a published C(18) SPE method. Under these conditions experimental method detection limits were between 8.0 and 36 ng/L, and accuracy for measurements in the 20-50 parts per trillion range was from 77 to 96%. Recoveries were slightly lower in surface water (e.g., 39-76%), possibly due to suppression of ionization.     

Collaborative validation of the QuEChERS procedure for the determination of pesticides in food by LC-MS/MS

Seven FDA pesticide laboratories collaborated to develop and validate an LC-MS/MS method to determine 173 pesticides in <20 min. The average determination coefficient (r2) was >0.99 for all but two compounds tested. The limits of detection were <20 ng/mL for all compounds and <10 ng/mL for 363 of the 368 transitions reported. The method was used to determine pesticides in two AOAC sponsored proficiency samples. The LC-MS/MS determination was used for the analysis of oranges, carrots and spinach using the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, Safe) method. Each matrix was fortified at 20, 100, 400, and 1000 ng/g. No false positive responses were detected in controls of the three matrices. 165 pesticides had recoveries between 70 and 130%, and 161 had minimum detection levels less than 10 ng/g. Recoveries of 169 compounds for the 1000 ng/g spikes were within 50-150%. A matrix effect study indicated all three matrices caused a small net suppressing effect, the most pronounced attributable to the citrus matrix. The procedure proved to be accurate, precise, linear, sensitive and rugged, and adds 100 pesticides to the scope of the FDA pesticide program.