A simple method for the determination of Atrazine in lake water by gas chromatography with electron capture detector...

Atrazine (ATZ) is a persistent herbicide found in aquatic environments worldwide, and the evaluation and monitoring of potential contamination by this pesticide are of utmost importance. A properly validated and well-established analytical method is important to detect ATZ in the environment. In this work, a dispersive liquid-liquid microsyringe extraction method was developed for the pre-concentration of ATZ in lake water samples for subsequent determination in a gas chromatograph with an electron capture detection (GC-ECD) system. The method showed excellent linearity in the range of 2 μg L-1 to 30 μg L-1, with correlation coefficient (R) values ≥0.995. In addition, the method is selective, and the sample matrix does not interfere with the determinations (≤20%). The limits of detection and limits of quantification were 0.6 μg L-1 and 2 μg L-1, respectively. The method is accurate, with recoveries ranging from 100% to 114%, and precise (13%). The extraction method associated with GC-ECD is reliable, sensitive, simple, fast, reproducible, environmentally friendly and economical. The method was applied to water samples from the Municipal Lake of the city of Cascavel (PR, Brazil) and no ATZ was detected in any of the samples.