Published:Journal of Chromatographic Science,
ISSN 0021-9665Volume
37, Number 7, July 1999, pp. 240-244
Analysis of Residual Acrylamide
In Field Crops Loren S. Bologna, Fikry F.
Andrawes, and Frank W. Barvenik
Cytec Industries, Inc., 1937 West Main Street, Stamford, CT 06902
Rodrick D. Lentz and Robert E. Sojka
Northwest Irrigation and Soil Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, 3793 N 3600 E, Kimberly,
ID 83341
Polyacrylamide (PAM) is a widely used product for a large number
of applications. Many of the emerging applications are in the area of agriculture.
PAM is blended with pesticides as a thickening agent, added to irrigation water
to minimize soil erosion, and used as a medium for hydroponically grown crops.
Although PAM is stable and considered to be safe, residual acrylamide (AMD)
monomer is a neurotoxin and animal carcinogen. In this work, residual AMD is
analyzed in a variety of crops that were grown under PAM treatment to stabilize
soil erosion. Corn, potatoes, sugar beets, and beans are analyzed for AMD. A
sample of the crop is homogenized with water, and the water layer is filtered
and derivatized with bromine to form 2,3-dibromopropionamide. The derivative
is then extracted with ethyl acetate and converted to the more stable 2-propenamide
prior to gas chromatographic analysis using an electron capture detector. Capillary
Carbowax columns were used. All tested crops show < 10 ppb AMD. Furthermore,
it seems that AMD is not stable when it comes in contact with the crop tissues.
In the presence of plant tissues, AMD will dissapear as a function of time.
Beans blended with 100 ppb AMD for 10 min yield a recovery of only 22%. For
a bean sample that was soaked with 500 ppb AMD solution for 18 h, the recovery
is 7%. Other crops show different AMD recoveries.
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