Simple method for distinguishing maneb, zineb, mancozeb, and selected mixtures.

Maneb, zineb, mancozeb, and arbitrarily selected mixtures of those can be differentiated by a simple method. Compounds are differentiated on the basis of colors produced after treatment of saturated solutions of the fungicides in n-propanol-acetone mixture (1 + 1 v/v), first with dithizone and then with monosodium dihydrogen phosphate solution in the same solvent. The color depends on the type and concentration of metal present in the sample.