Clean analytical method for the determination of propoxur

A method has been developed for the determination of propoxur, a carbamate pesticide, by means of its reaction with p-aminophenol (PAP). The method involves the reaction, in the presence of KIO4, between the quinoneimine form of PAP and the deprotonated form of 2-isopropoxyphenol, obtained by the alkaline hydrolysis of propoxur, to provide an indophenol dye which absorbs at 600 nm. The analysis is carried out in a flow system and, after the measurement step, the waste, the reaction product and the unreacted derivatising agent is detoxified in a UV-irradiated coil placed after the measurement flow-cell and after mixing the waste with a TiO2(anatase) catalyst slurry, which can be reutilized several times. The developed methodology is very simple and provides a satisfactory way to avoid toxic waste products by the application of analytical methods.