Vibrational Spectrometry Strategies for Quality Control of Procymidone in Pesticide Formulations

Abstract

Two vibrational spectrometry–based methodologies were developed for procymidone determination in wettable powdered pesticide formulations. The Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) procedure was based on the selective extraction of procymidone by chloroform and determination by peak area measurement between 1451 and 1441 cm⁻¹, using a baseline correction established between 1490 and 1410 cm⁻¹, and a precision of 0.4% and a limit of detection of 0.01% w/w procymidone for a sample mass of 25 mg were obtained. For FT‐Raman determination, the selected conditions were peak area measurement between 1005 and 995 cm⁻¹ Raman shift, with a baseline correction fixed between 1030 and 947 cm⁻¹, and a relative standard deviation of 1% and a limit of detection of 0.8% procymidone in the original sample were obtained. The sample frequency for FTIR determination was 30 hr⁻¹, lower than that for Raman with 40 hr⁻¹. FT‐Raman reduces to the minimum the reagent consumption and waste generation, also avoiding the sample handling and contact of the operator with the pesticide. It can be concluded that the proposed methods are appropriate for quality control in commercial pesticide formulations.

This paper was by special invitation as a contribution to a special issue of the journal entitled “Quantitative Vibrational Spectrometry in the 21st Century.” This special issue was organized by Professor Miguel de la Guardia, Professor of Analytical Chemistry at Valencia University, Spain.

Keywords:

• FTIR
• pesticide formulations
• powder analysis
• procymidone
• Raman

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Generalitat Valenciana Project GV04B‐247 and Grupos 03‐118, and S. Armenta acknowledges the FPU Grant of the Ministerio de Educacion Cultura y Deporte AP2002‐1874.

Notes

This paper was by special invitation as a contribution to a special issue of the journal entitled “Quantitative Vibrational Spectrometry in the 21st Century.” This special issue was organized by Professor Miguel de la Guardia, Professor of Analytical Chemistry at Valencia University, Spain.