A new on-line micellar-enhanced photochemically-induced fluorescence method for determination of phenylurea herbicide residues in water.

A new flow injection analysis micellar-enhanced photochemically induced fluorescence (FIA-MEPIF) method was developed for the determination of four phenylurea herbicides, including isoproturon, neburon, linuron and diuron. On-line photoconversion under UV irradiation of these herbicides into strongly fluorescent photoproducts was performed in buffered aqueous solutions and in the presence of surfactants [sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) or cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAC)] at micellar concentrations. The MEPIF and FIA parameters were optimized. The analytical figures of merit for the determination of the four herbicides were satisfactory, with concentration linear dynamic ranges over about one to two orders of magnitude, detection limits of 0.33-0.92 mg[sol ]L and relative standard deviations of 1.3-11%, according to the compound. Application to the analysis of fortified tap water samples yielded good recovery values (91-103%, according to the herbicide). Our results show that the on-line MEPIF-FIA method is simple, versatile, sensitive and can be easily applied to quantify pollutant residues in multiresidue systems.