Flow-through fluorescence immunosensor for atrazine determination

A new flow-through fluoroimmunosensor for atrazine determination based on the use of protein A immobilized on controlled pore glass as immunoreactor is reported. The support, placed in the optical path of the flow cell, allows the 'in situ' quantification of atrazine by on-line antigen-antibody binding upon successive injections of both substances. The immunosensor has a detection limit of 2.1 mug l(-1), a sample speed of about 10 samples per hour, and provides high reproducibility both within-day (3.2% for 5 mug l(-1) and 2.2% for 30 mug l(-1)) and between days. The optimum working concentration range was 2.1-50 mug l(-1). Possible interferences of other triazines like simazine, desethylatrazine (DEA) and desisopropylatrazine (DIA) were evaluated. Simazine and DIA were not cross-reactive; however, the cross-reactivity for DEA was CR=7.7%. The proposed immunosensor was successfully applied to the determination of atrazine in drinking water and citrus fruits.