Glyphosate analysis using sensors and electromigration separation techniques as alternatives to gas or liquid chromatography

Abstract

Since its introduction in 1974, the herbicide glyphosate has experienced a tremendous increase in use, with about one million tons used annually today. This review focuses on sensors and electromigration separation techniques as alternatives to chromatographic methods for the analysis of glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethyl phosphonic acid. Even with the large number of studies published, glyphosate analysis remains challenging. With its polar and depending on pH even ionic functional groups lacking a chromophore, it is difficult to analyze with chromatographic techniques. Its analysis is mostly achieved after derivatization. Its purification from food and environmental samples inevitably results incoextraction of ionic matrix components, with a further impact on analysis derivatization. Its purification from food and environmental samples inevitably results in coextraction of ionic matrix components, with a further impact on analysis and also derivatization reactions. Its ability to form chelates with metal cations is another obstacle for precise quantification. Lastly, the low limits of detection required by legislation have to be met. These challenges preclude glyphosate from being analyzed together with many other pesticides in common multiresidue (chromatographic) methods. For better monitoring of glyphosate in environmental and food samples, further fast and robust methods are required. In this review, analytical methods are summarized and discussed from the perspective of biosensors and various formats of electromigration separation techniques, including modes such as capillary electrophoresis and micellar electrokinetic chromatography, combined with various detection techniques. These methods are critically discussed with regard to matrix tolerance, limits of detection reached, and selectivity.

Keywords: Aminomethyl phosphonic acid; Derivatization; Immunosensor; Limits of detection; Matrix tolerance.