Thylakoid membranes-based test-system for detecting of trace quantities of the photosynthesis-inhibiting herbicides in drinking water

A simple method for the photosynthesis-inhibiting herbicides detection was proposed as a practical approach for environmental monitoring. The method combines the test-system based on the inhibition of the thylakoid membrane activity in microtiter plates with the sample preconcentration on the solid-phase cartridges. The C-18 cartridge provides acceptable recovery (>85%) of atrazine, simazine and cyanazine in a broad range of concentrations, The method proposed allows to detect the photosynthesis-inhibiting herbicides in the concentration range of 1 x 10(-10) M-2 x 10(-5) M. Three procedures of the thylakoid membranes immobilization on microtiter plates are compared in order to improve the thylakoid membranes' stability. The procedure, where poly(vinylalcohol) bearing styrylpyridinium groups (PVA-SbQ) is used for the thylakoid membranes immobilization, is found to be the most promising. Simple preparation of the test-kits permits to consider them as a practical tool for the detection of trace quantities of the photosynthesis-inhibiting herbicides in drinking water. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.