Determination of Traces of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy Acetic Acid in Environmental Samples

Sensitive determination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-0) was studied at a static mercurydrop electrode in aqueous media and in the presence of britton-robinson buffer as the electrolyte.in this study, the electroinactive 2,4-0 was first converted to electroactive nitrated 2,4-0.subsequent determination was carried out by differential pulse polarography. under optimumconditions (ph = 11; v = 90 mv s^-1; modulation amplitude = 120 mv). the relative standarddeviation was 4.5% and limit of detection in terms of nitrated 2,4-d was 5 (mu)g l^-1 (1.88 x 10-8 m)with linear concentration range from 8 to 300 /.1g l^-1(3 x 10^-8 -1.12 x 1o^-6m). the proposedmethod offered high sensitivity as well as good selectivity. a mechanistic study, showed fourelectronreduction of nitrated 2,4-0 to its hydroxylamine derivative. the proposed method was,also, applied to the determination of 2,4-0 in environmental samples such as soil samples.