Ag-EDTA-Zr and Au-EDTA-Zr Nanocomposites for the Quantitative Determination of Some Organophosphate Pesticides in Water and Tomatoes.

Background: Organophosphate pesticides (OP) pose risks to health and the environment, and monitoring them is an urgent task.

Objective: Development of a method for their determination in water and food.

Method: A simple photometric method for the determination of some OPs was demonstrated. Ag-EDTA-Zr and Au-EDTA-Zr nanoparticles were synthesized and were applied for the determination of some OPs (dimethoate, chlorpyrifos, and diazinon).

Results: It was demonstrated that silver nanoparticles provide more sensitivity in comparison to gold nanoparticles. As a result, Ag-EDTA-Zr nanoparticles were further applied for the determination of these pesticides in tomatoes.

Conclusions: The lowest detectable concentrations for dimethoate, diazinon, and chlorpyrifos in water reached 0.1 (SD 0.082), 0.4 (SD 0.075), and 0.4 mg/L (SD 0.088), respectively, whereas in tomato the lowest detectable concentrations for these pesticides were 0.5 (SD 0.789), 2 (SD 0.085), and 0.5 mg/L (SD 0.088). The sensitivity of detection in tomatoes is lower than in water; however, these concentrations are comparable with allowable concentrations of OP pesticides.

Highlights: A novel approach for quantitative detection of OPs was developed. Ag-EDTA-Zr and Au-EDTA-Zr nanocomposites interact with these pesticides, and, as a result, optical changes of these nanoparticles take place. These changes correlate with the concentration of pesticides.