Analysis of Sevin, Amitraz, and Metalaxyl Pesticides Using Ion Mobility Spectrometry

Abstract

Positive ion mobility spectra of different pesticides, such as sevin or carbaryl (1‐napthyl methylcarbamate), amitraz (N,N′‐[(methylimino) dimethylidyne]di‐2,4‐xylidine), and metalaxyl (methyl‐N‐(2,6‐dimethylphenyl)‐N‐(2‐xylyl)‐DL‐alaninate) as carbamate, amidine, and alkaline groups, respectively, have been studied in air at ambient pressure using ion mobility spectrometry method with ⁶³Ni ionization source. The limits of detection (LODs) were 5.3×10⁻¹⁰, 5.8×10⁻¹⁰, and 4.5×10⁻¹⁰ g for sevin, amitraz, and metalaxyl, respectively. The working range of these compounds was about three orders of magnitude and the relative standard deviation (RSD) of repeatability at the 5 µg mL⁻¹ level were all below 14%. Furthermore, in this study, the influences of IMS cell temperature on the ion mobility spectra of these compounds were investigated.

Keywords:

• Sevin
• amitraz
• metalaxyl
• ion mobility spectrometry

Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to the Isfahan Engineering Research Center for its financial support. Engineers K. Borhani and A. Memar are also acknowledged for their valuable help.