Extraction method for determining dinotefuran insecticide in water samples

Abstract

Dinotefuran is a compound belonging to the third generation of nicotinoid insecticides, and has been effective in combating pests that are resistant to conventional insecticides, such as organophosphates, carbamates, and pyrethroids. This molecule presents high-water solubility (39,830 mg L⁻¹ at 25 °C) compared to other pesticides, which facilitates its drag and leaching to lower soil layers. Therefore, the present study aimed to optimize and validate liquid–liquid extraction with low temperature purification (LLE–LTP) to determine dinotefuran residues in water by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC–DAD). The results revealed that the analyte recovery ranged from 85.44 to 89.72% with a relative standard deviation <5.8. LLE–LTP was selective, precise, accurate, and linear in the range from 10.0 to 210 µg L⁻¹, and presented limits of detection and quantification of 5.00 and 10.00 µg L⁻¹, respectively. The matrix effect was <14%. The stability study of dinotefuran in water revealed significant stability of this molecule in water in the absence of light (>130 days), and a half-life of 7 days in water with sunlight. LLE–LTP coupled to HPLC–DAD was a simple, easy, and efficient method for extracting and analyzing dinotefuran in water samples.

Keywords:

• Extraction methodology
• HPLC–DAD
• LLE–LTP
• neonicotinoid insecticide
• sample preparation

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its Appendix.

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (308480/2019-8) for the financial support from research fellowships. The authors are also grateful to the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) (APQ-02736-21 and APQ-00472-22), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Laboratório de Química Instrumental (LQI-UFMG), and the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), for the infrastructure provided.