Simultaneous determination of chlorothalonil and its metabolite 4-hydroxychlorothalonil in greenhouse air: dissipation process of chlorothalonil

An analytical method was developed and tested for the simultaneous determination of chlorothalonil and its main metabolite 4-hydroxychlorothalonil, in airborne samples. High performance liquid chromatography equipped with Ultra-violet detector was used to separate and quantify the analytes. Glass microfibre filters for the collection of the analytes' particles were tested. Solid sorbents, such as Tenax, Florisil, XAD-2 and silica gel, were studied to find out the most suitable material for the collection of the analytes in the gas phase. The results have shown that only chlorothalonil was trapped in the vapor phase with highest results obtained when silica gel was the sorbent of choice. Linearity was demonstrated in a wide concentration range 0.01-10.00 mg L(-1). Recoveries from spiked glass microfibre filters and silica gel cartridges for chlorothalonil and 4-hydroxychlorothalonil were almost quantitative. The quantification limits were calculated to be 8.4 and 19.6 ng m(-3) in air for chlorothalonil and 4-hydroxychlorothalonil, respectively. The two analytes spiked on the GF/A filters and silica gel cartridges were proven to be stable for more than 15 days, at 4degrees C and ambient temperature. The applicability of the present method was demonstrated by the analysis of the chlorothalonil and its metabolite in greenhouse air.