Este trabalho descreve o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia para a determinação de atrazina em solução de solo, utilizando Voltametria de Onda Quadrada em condições de Fluxo Contínuo, empregando o eletrodo de gota pendente de mercúrio. Para uma freqüência de 350 Hz e vazão de 0,47 mL min -1 , obteve-se a maior relação sinal/ruído, sendo que a curva analítica obtida em solução de solo na presença de tampão BR 40 mmol L -1 e NaNO 3 0,25 mol L -1 apresentou faixa linear entre 0,10 e 2,0 μg mL -1 , com limites de detecção e quantificação de 0,030 e 0,10 μg mL -1 , respectivamente. A metodologia proposta proporcionou significativo aumento da velocidade analítica em comparação à metodologia em batelada, além de proporcionar baixo consumo de amostra, sendo possível determinar 72 amostras por hora consumindo apenas 341 μL por análise. Os resultados foram similares aos obtidos por HPLC, mas o método proposto tem menor tempo de análise e não emprega solventes orgânicos.This work describes the development of a Continuous Flow-Square Wave Voltammetry method for determination of atrazine using the hanging mercury drop electrode. The best signal to noise ratio was obtained at the square wave frequency of 350 Hz and flow rate of 0.47 mL min -1 . Under these conditions, the analytical curve obtained in 0.010 mol L -1 CaCl 2 soil extracts in presence of 40 mmol L -1 BR buffer and 0.25 mol L -1 NaNO 3 was linear for atrazine concentrations between 0.10 and 2.0 μg mL -1 , with detection and quantification limits of 0.030 and 0.10 μg mL -1 , respectively. The proposed method increased the analytical throughput in comparison with the batch methodology, allowing a sampling frequency of 72 h -1 to be accomplished. Besides, the sample consumption is significantly reduced, and only 341 μL are necessary for each analysis. The results obtained were similar to the ones obtained by HPLC, but the proposed method is faster and does not use organic solvents.
Keywords: continuous flow, atrazine, soil solution, square wave voltametry
IntroductionThe use of pesticides has increased in the world because of the increasing food production. Brazil occupies the 5 th position in the ranking of the countries with the largest consumption of these chemicals. Despite of this fact, monitoring of pesticide residues in soils and waters is not frequent in the country. 1 Triazines have been used in several crops as pre and post emergence herbicides. Nowadays, atrazine and simazine are the most used triazines around the world. [2][3][4] Significant amounts of atrazine may be stored in soil after application. The amount and persistence of the herbicide bound to soil particles is dependent on many factors. These include the type of soil, percent of organic matter, amount of clay, soil pH, and soil structure. 5 Walker 6 showed that atrazine adsorption is directly related to the concentration organic matter and humidity of soils.A significant amount of atrazine may also be lost to surface runoff and into the groundwater via leaching from agricultural land. 5 In US...