Accelerated solvent extraction of fluometuron from selected soils

Accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) is a recently developed extraction technique that is more rapid and produces less waste than do conventional liquid/liquid extraction methods. Optimal conditions were determined for ASE of fluometuron from 2 Weswood clay loam soils. Two solvents (acetonitrile and methanol), 2 temperatures (50 and 100 degrees C), and the number of static cycles (1, 2, and 3) were evaluated. The most efficient and reproducible extractions were obtained when methanol was combined with a 50 degrees C extraction temperature and the static cycle was repeated 3 times. These experiments indicated that existing extraction methods for fluometuron can easily be adapted for ASE.