Evaluation of an alternative sorbent for passive sampling of the herbicides 2,4-D and Dicamba in the air

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the Strata-X^® sorbent, commonly used in cartridges, through analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Due to the different physical-chemical characteristics of the compounds, different conditions of chromatography and mass analysis were necessary. The developed methods were validated in terms of selectivity, linear range, linearity (coefficient of determination, r²), the limit of detection (LOD), the limit of quantification (LOQ), accuracy (recovery, %), and precision (RSD, %). The results allowed us to select efficient extraction methods, using methanol acidified to pH 2 with formic acid, to elute the herbicides 2,4-D and dicamba in both sorbent materials. Besides, the Strata-X^® sorbent was efficient in the sorption of analytes; thus, we indicate it for potential use in air sampling as an alternative to XAD-2.

Keywords:

• Volatilization
• Determination method
• Auxinic herbicides
• Vapor phase
• Strata-X^®

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge fellowships from Fundação Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001, Programa Nacional de Pós-Doutorado (PNPD/CAPES) (granted to the CPF: 018.567.450-07), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) [process number: 132111/2017-9], Weed Science Research Group (CEHERB) and Department of Crop Protection, Federal University of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.