SEPARATION OF FUNGICIDES BY MICELLAR ELECTROKINETIC CAPILLARY CHROMATOGRAPHY

Capillary electrophoresis with ultraviolet detection (CE/UV) of select ed fungicides (carbendazim, metalaxyl, propiconazole, and vinclozolin) using different buffer compositions was investigated. Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with 10 mM sodium phosphate (pH 7.0) was not use ful in separating the four fungicides used in this study. However, the four fungicides were well resolved by employing micellar electrokinet ic capillary chromatography (MEKC). Among the two surfactants tested i n MEKC, bile salts provided better separation compared to sodium dodec yl sulfate (SDS). A buffer consisting of 10 mM sodium phosphate with 1 00 mM sodium cholate and 10% methanol (pH 7.0) gave best results; exce llent separation of the four compounds was achieved in less than 15 mi n. The CE/UV method was validated by analyzing deionized and lake-wate r samples fortified with known concentrations of the four fungicides. Average recoveries of the fungicides in lake water at 4 mu g/L level r anged from 42 to 87%.