Abstract
A liquid chromatographic (LC) method that uses a water rich mobile phase to isolate imidacloprid and its photolysis products, a photodiode array (PDA), and electro-spray mass spectrometer (MS) to detect them was employed to characterize mixtures of imidacloprid and its degradation products. The photolysis study that was undertaken showed that decomposition of imidacloprid in distilled water is a first order reaction, and the major photolysis products are imidacloprid urea, imidacloprid olefin, and imidacloprid desnitro.
This article was submitted as part of a Special Memorial Issue honoring Prof. George G. Guilbault.
This research was made possible through the financial support of the Oklahoma State University Research Foundation and the College of Arts & Sciences Tech Fee Committee. B. K. Levine thanks the California Department of Pesticide Regulation for providing samples of imidacloprid, 6-chloronicotinic acid, imidacloprid urea, imidacloprid olefin desnitro, and imidacloprid desnitro that were crucial to ensure the successful completion of this study.