Capillary electrophoresis with ultraviolet detection (CE-UV) and laser
-induced fluorescence detection (CE-LIF) was used for analysis of a gr
oup of herbicides that have widespread use in the USA. CE-UV was emplo
yed for simultaneous determination of atrazine, simazine, alachlor and
metolachlor in water. In addition, CE-UV was also suitable for analys
is of dicamba, 2,4-D and chlorimuron ethyl. Dicamba, 2,4-D and chlorim
uron ethyl were also analyzed using CE-LIF following derivatization wi
th fluorescent reagents. Dicamba and 2,4-D were derivatized with 4-bro
momethyl-7-methoxycoumarin and chlorimuron ethyl was derivatized with
dansyl chloride following hydrolysis. The detection limit with CE-UV f
or atrazine, simazine and metolachlor was 0.1 mu g/l and for alachlor
was 1.0 mu g/l. The estimated detection limit with CE-LIF for dicamba,
2,4-D and chlorimuron ethyl was 10 ng/l. Our results demonstrate that
CE provides a powerful new analytical tool for herbicide analysis.