Differential-pulse polarographic determination of the insecticide imidacloprid in commercial formulations

The reduction reaction of imidacloprid [1-(6-chloro-3-pyridylmethyl)-N-nitroimidazolidin-2-ylideneamine] at a mercury electrode shows two well-defined waves in the range of pH 2.0-11.0. The characteristics of the electrode processes were examined. The analyte captures four electrons in the first step and two in the second to give the hydroxylamine and amine derivatives, respectively. A differential-pulse polarographic method for the determination of imidacloprid based on the first reduction peak of this compound is presented. Britton-Robinson buffer was used as a supporting electrolyte and optimum pH value was found to be pH 8.0. The applicable concentration range was from 10 to 200 ng/ml, with a relative standard deviation of 1.5% (for a level of 80 ng/ml) and a detection limit of 3 ng/ml. The method has been satisfactorily applied to the determination of imidacloprid in commercial formulations.