Fast determination of thiacloprid by photoinduced chemiluminescence

Fabrication of a 2D metal-organic framework (MOF) nanosheet colloidal system and investigation of its fluorescence response to pesticide molecules

Pesticides, as a type of toxic chemicals widely used for a long time, not only pollute the environment but also affect people's health and cause serious harm to the human body, soil and environment. Therefore, it is very necessary to exploit a portable and environmentally friendly method to detect pesticides with high sensitivity. Herein, a new luminescent metal-organic framework ([Zn(TPYBDC)·H₂O]_n, TPYBDC^2- = 4'-(pyridin-4-yl)-[2,2':6',2''-terpyridine]-4,4''-dicarboxylate) with 2D coordination layers has been designed and assembled using 4'-(pyridin-4-yl)-[2,2':6',2''-terpyridine]-4,4''-dicarboxylic acid as the ligand. The as-synthesized Zn-LMOF was exfoliated to ultrathin 2D nanosheets (4-5 nm) to form a luminescence colloidal sensor by destroying the weak interaction between the coordination layers such as H-bonding between the matrix H₂O and the coordination carboxyl oxygen, and the π-π interactions among the interlayer conjugated aromatic rings. Investigation of its recognition and detection ability towards chemical pesticides shows that it can sensitively detect pesticides such as imidacloprid, nitenpyram and dinotefuran via fluorescence quenching effect with very low detection limit (LOD). Using imidacloprid as a typical case, a LOD value of 0.562 μM and recoveries for the simulated agricultural environmental samples in the range of 94-115% suggests that the as-fabricated 2D Zn-MOF nanosheet colloidal sensor (Zn-LMOF probe) is a most promising candidate for sensing chemical pesticides.

A review of recent developments based on chemiluminescence detection systems for pesticides analysis

Chemiluminescence is one of the most coveted methods for sensitive determination of pesticides in food and environmental samples. To date, many methods have been developed for qualitative and quantitative analysis of pesticides, ranging from traditional to advanced methods. This study outlines the progress in the conventional and advanced analytical methods, coupled to a chemiluminescence detection system, that are employed for the determination of pesticides in food and environmental samples. Different analytical methods including chromatographic methods, flow-based systems, and paper-based systems are reviewed in this paper. As well, new advances in the application of nanomaterials, aptamer, and molecularly imprinted polymers are highlighted. We also address the challenges and difficulties associated with these methods. Finally, we highlight the future direction in this active field of research.

Automated Photochemically Induced Method for the Quantitation of the Neonicotinoid Thiacloprid in Lettuce

In this work, we present an automated luminescence sensor for the quantitation of the insecticide thiacloprid, one of the main neonicotinoids, in lettuce samples. A simple and automated manifold was constructed, using multicommutated solenoid valves to handle all solutions. The analyte was online irradiated with UV light to produce a highly fluorescent photoproduct (λexc/λem = 305/370 nm/nm) that was then retained on a solid support placed in the flow cell. In this way, the pre-concentration of the photoproduct was achieved in the detection area, increasing the sensitivity of the analytical method. A method-detection limit of 0.24 mg kg-1 was achieved in real samples, fulfilling the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) of The European Union for thiacloprid in lettuce (1 mg kg-1). A sample throughput of eight samples per hour was obtained. Recovery experiments were carried out at values close to the MRL, obtaining recovery yields close to 100% and relative standard deviations lower than 5%. Hence, this method would be suitable for routine analyses in quality control, as an alternative to other existing methods.

Selective and Sensitive Chemiluminescence Determination of MCPB: Flow Injection and Liquid Chromatography

Two new chemiluminescence (CL) methods are described for the determination of the herbicide 4-(4-chloro-o-tolyloxy) butyric acid (MCPB). First, a flow injection chemiluminescence (FI-CL) method is proposed. In this method, MCPB is photodegraded with an ultraviolet (UV) lamp and the photoproducts formed provide a great CL signal when they react with ferricyanide in basic medium. Second, a high-performance liquid chromatography chemiluminescence (HPLC-CL) method is proposed. In this method, before the photodegradation and CL reaction, the MCPB and other phenoxyacid herbicides are separated in a C18 column. The experimental conditions for the FI-CL and HPLC-CL methods are optimized. Both methods present good sensitivity, the detection limits being 0.12 µg L(-1) and 0.1 µg L(-1) (for FI-CL and HPLC-CL, respectively) when solid phase extraction (SPE) is applied. Intra- and interday relative standard deviations are below 9.9%. The methods have been satisfactorily applied to the analysis of natural water samples. FI-CL method can be employed for the determination of MCPB in simple water samples and for the screening of complex water samples in a fast, economic, and simple way. The HPLC-CL method is more selective, and allows samples that have not been resolved with the FI-CL method to be solved.