Abstract
Paraquat, diquat and 1, 1'-diethyl-4, 4'-bipyridyldiylium (internal standard) were analyzed simultaneously by a high-performance liquid chromatography. A Nova-Pak C18 (3.9mm×15cm) column was used with an eluent of 12.5% methanol containing 0.005M 1-heptanesulphonate, 0.05M diethylamine and adjusted to pH 3.0 with orthophospholic acid. Paraquat and diquat were quantitatively detected at the level of 0.1μg/ml. This method was suitable for the analysis of paraquat and diquat in human serum samples following poisoning.
Furthermore, a procedure for the rapid and selective extraction of paraquat and diquat from human serum was modified using Sep-Pak C18 cartridges without deproteinization. Serum or urine (1ml) from patient with 0.5μg of internal standard was adjusted pH to 11-13 with sodium hydroxide or ammonia then passed through Sep-Pak C18 cartridge without deproteinization. Adsorbed herbicides were quantitatively eluted with acidic methanol (5ml) after the removal of interfering materials with water (5ml) and methanol (5ml).
These simple and rapid analytical methods would be useful in clinical laboratories.
