Determination of benzimidazole fungicides in soil samples using microwave-assisted micellar extraction and liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

Abstract

A simple and fast analytical method was developed for the determination of benzimidazole fungicidas (benomyl, carbendazim, thiabendazole, and fuberidazole) in soil samples. The analytes were extractad from the soil samples by means of conventional microwave-assisted extraction, using the non-ionic surfactants polyoxyethylene 1 O lauryl ether (POLE) and oligoethylene glycol monooalkyl ether (Genapol X-080) as extractants. Determinations were made by using liquid chromatography with direct fluorescence detection. The use of an analytical column Symmetry C-18 offered short retention times of analytes without the need of any pH regulators with mobile phase methanol-water (50 + 50, v/v). The best results were obtained using 5% (v/v) POLE as extractant with recoveries of the fungicidas in spiked soil samples between 71 and 105%. The results were comparad with those obtained when Soxhlet extraction was applied to the same soil samples.