B. Bjarnason et al., Enzyme flow immunoassay using a Protein G column for the screening of triazine herbicides in surface and waste water, ANALYT CHIM, 426(2), 2001, pp. 197-207
A method for screening of triazine herbicides in surface and waste water is
presented. The method is based on an enzyme flow immunoassay (EFIA) for th
e detection of the free fraction of a horse radish peroxidase (HRP)-labelle
d antigen (tracer). This was accomplished by trapping the bound tracer frac
tion in a Protein G column, allowing the residual free tracer fraction to p
ass and be detected spectrophotometrically after incubation with an enzyme
substrate. As compared with detecting the bound tracer fraction this reduce
s the regeneration requirements of the Protein G column used for capturing
the bound fraction and, therefore, reduces assay time. A polyclonal antibod
y directed against simazine showed no reactivity towards tracers that were
thiopropionic acid derivatives of atrazine, simazine and terbutylazine. It
had good sensitivity towards tracers using derivatives of 2-chloro-4,6-(alk
ylamino)-s-triazines such as atrazine and simazine. The highest sensitivity
was obtained with an Et/Cl/N-C-5-HRP tracer because this tracer could be u
sed in combination with the lowest concentration of antibody. The detection
limit was 0.1 mug l(-1) with a linear range between 0.1 and 10 mug l(-1) a
nd an assay throughput of 12 h(-1). Natural water samples from various loca
tions in Russia were analysed for triazines and the results were compared w
ith a previously developed fluorescein how immunoassay for triazines. The r
esults were further verified by supported liquid membrane (SLM) extraction
combined with HPLC. The results show that the two immunoassays behave diffe
rently and that the sample matrix influences their performance, however, no
false negative results were obtained. The possible reasons for the differe
nt results between the two immunoassays are discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sc
ience B.V. All rights reserved.