Determination of carbamates and organophosphorus pesticides by SDME-GC in natural water

Water contamination due to the wide variety of pesticides used in agriculture practices is a global environmental pollution problem. Analytical methods with low quantification limits are necessary. The application of a new extraction technique, solvent drop microextraction (SDME), followed by gas chromatography with a nitrogen-phosphorus detector, was assessed for determining carbamates and organophosphorus pesticides in natural water. Experimental parameters which control the performance of SDME such as selection of microextraction solvent, optimization of organic drop volume, effects of sample stirring, salt addition, and, finally, sorption time profiles were studied. Once SDME was optimized, analytical parameters such as linearity (r(2)> 0.99), precision (< 13 %), and detection limits (0.2 to 5 mu g/L), plus matrix effects were evaluated (no matrix effects were found). SDME is a dynamic technique able to extract pesticides from water in 14 min; the use of organic solvents and water samples for SDME is negligible compared to other extraction techniques.