Accelerated solvent extraction of fluometuron from selected soils

Abstract

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°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°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.