Development of a high-throughput method of analysis for selected neonicotinoids

Gauthier, Jeremy (2018) Development of a high-throughput method of analysis for selected neonicotinoids. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (26MB)

Abstract

Neonicotinoids are a class of insecticides recently developed as more environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid insecticides. Through continuously expanding global use of neonicotinoids, they have become the most widely use insecticides. In addition, there are increasing concerns regarding their use, particularly regarding their effects on pollinating and aquatic species. Regulatory agencies are beginning the phase-out and restriction of neonicotinoid insecticides in Europe and North America. This research details the development of a comprehensive method of analysis for neonicotinoid insecticides in aqueous environmental matrices. Analytical methods are developed for routine, high-throughput, quantitative measurements of neonicotinoids; and new sampling, extraction, and pre-concentration techniques are examined. By combining UHPLC with a simpler method and superficially porous column technology, the elution program for the six neonicotinoids of interest is reduced from a literature average of 9 minutes, to just 2.7 minutes for baseline separation. Additionally, tandem mass spectrometry is used to lower instrumental limits of detection. Separation and extraction procedures can be eliminated entirely through the adaptation of TDU-DART-MS, methods for which were developed and optimized for the neonicotinoids. Finally, the novel MIP-SPE procedure is used with high sensitivity to selectively extract neonicotinoids of interest from environmental matrices. Method detection limits are lowered to fall between 0.1 and 1 ng L⁻¹, and local waterways are shown to demonstrate a presence of neonicotinoids while using this method.

Actions (login required)

View Item