Short-Time Derivatization Method for Analysis of Abamectin in Water Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Fluorescence Detector

Abstract

A method using a short-time derivatization step for the assessment of abamectin in water is presented. Abamectin derivative stable up to 7 days was obtained. Some regions where orange crops are present have received abamectin doses, aiming to increase the productivity and to combat pests and weeds, even when its residues reach the aquatic environment and interfere on water quality. Water samples from Jacaré-Pepira River (Brotas City, Brazil) nearby orange crops around urban zone, were evaluated for the presence of abamectin. The analytical method was validated resulting recovery around 108%, precision of 12%, accuracy of 104%, correlation coefficient of 0.9945, and detection and quantification limits of 0.1 µg•L−1 and 0.2 µg•L−1, respectively. Stable abamectin derivative was reached after 60 min of derivatization at room temperature (25˚C). No abamectin residues were found into samples.