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Pesticide residue analysis of drinking water and ground water

We analyze Preface

Sofia GmbH provides the methods to analyze pesticides, their metabolites, pharmaceuticals and other contaminants in drinking water, ground water and surface water. SOFIA offers sophisticated analytical programs especially for pesticide residue control.

Pesticides

The MRL (maximum residue limit) of the drinking water is 0,1µg/l for a single compound and 0,5 µg/l for the sum of pesticides. The limits of quantification of SOFIA’s analytical methods assure the effective control of the legal limit.

• GC/MS-screening
  Pesticides are extracted and enriched using solid phase extraction (SPE). The analysis is done by gas chromatography using selective detectors (FPD, NPD) and mass spectrometry. More than 300 compounds of the following groups are analysed:
  - organochlorines (e.g. lindane, DDTs, endosulfanes)
  - organophosphates (e.g. parathion, chlorpyriphos)
  - nitrogen containing compounds like triazines and azoles (e.g. atrazine, simazine, tebuconazole….)
  - pyrethroids (e.g. cypermethrin, fenvalerat)
  
  Limits of quantification range between 0,1 and 0,025 µg/L.

• HPLC/MS/MS-screening
  The pesticides (mor than 250 compounds) are analyzed by a direct injection of a relatively large sample volume into an  HPLC-MS/MS system. Especially polar and thermolabile pesticides can be analysed. The Groups are urea herbicides, carbamates, sulfonyl urea herbicides and others. The normal limit of quantitation is 0,05 µg/l.
  
  On special request the limits of quantitation can be lowered to below 0.001 µg/l by the application of SPE.

Special groups of pesticides

• Acidic herbicides
  This group comprises phenoxyalkanoic acid herbicides as well as other compounds like clopyralid and sulcotrion.
  
  Preconcentration is accomplished using an infrared and vacuum supported evaporation of the sample. The determination is executed using LC-MS/MS. The normal limit of quantitation is 0,05 µg/l.
  
  Upon special request the limits of quantitation can be lowered significantly by application of SPE.

• Dithiocarbamates
  Dithiocarbamate fungicides can be analyzed using HS-GC-MS/MS after acidic hydrolysis yielding CS2.

Analysis of special compounds

• Glyphosate / glufosinate
  These two compounds belong to the most frequently applied total herbicides. Their tradenames are e.g. Roundup and BASTA. The metabolite of glyphosate, AMPA, is also analyzed within this test. After derivatization with 9-Fluorenylmethyl chloroformate the compounds are analyzed using HPLC-MS/MS.

• Amitrol
  Amitrol is a widely used total herbicide. It has a good solubility in water and as a systemic pesticide it is absorbed by in the whole plant. In SOFIA’s laboratory the compound is analysed according to the method of Sandra et.al, Recent Applications in LC-MS, November 2002, S7. ff.

• Chlormequat / Mepiquat
  The analysis is done using LC/MS/MS after extracting and enriching the analytes.

• Paraquat/Diquat
  Paraquat and diquat are quarternary ammonia compounds with a high solubility in water. They are used as non selective herbicides that inhibit the photosynthesis.
  The analysis is done using LC/MS/MS after extracting and enriching of the analytes.

• Analysis of pesticide metabolites
  Recently pesticide metabolites got have become a center of attention in the analysis of ground water, drinking water and mineral water. . . . . read more »

Further chemicals

• Highly volatile halocarbons (1,2-dichloroethane, trichloroethane, trichlorethene, trihalomethane, dichloropropan, dichloropropene)
  These halocarbons can be analysed using headspace GC/MS or headspace SPME / GC/MS.

• Epichlorhydrin
  Epichlorhydrin is a monomer of plastic materials. The maximum residue level according to the German regulation of drinking water is 0.1 µg/l.
  The analysis is done with a particular method using SPME and GC/MS.

• Vinylchloride
  Vinylchlorid is a monomer of plastic materials. The maximum residue level according to the German regulation of drinking water is 0.5 µg/l.
  
  The analysis is done using SPME/GC/MS.

• Acrylamid
  Refer Acrylamid
   

• Polybrominated biphenyl ethers
  Polybrominated biphenylether are widely used as flame retardants in plastics, textiles and insulation materials. The compounds are persistant and can be found in surface water.
  The Analysis is done using LLE and high temperature GC/MS.

• PAHs, benzo(a)pyren
  These compounds can be analyzed by a cooperating laboratory within the Eurofins group.

• Heavy metals
  These compounds can be analyzed by a cooperating laboratory within the Eurofins group.

List of compounds

Download of the list of compounds analysed as

PDF-file

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