Optimisation of FIA system for detection of organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides based on cholinesterase inhibition

The sensitivity of the bioanalytical FIA system containing different immobilised cholinesterases (AChEs from electric eel, human erythrocytes, bovine erythrocytes and BuChE from horse serum) for determination of organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides was tested. Responses to some frequently used organophosphorus (paraoxon. oxydemeton-methyl. triazophos) and carbamate (carbofuran. propoxur) pesticides were found to be dependent on the origin of cholinesterases. The highest sensitivity was obtained by bioanalytical columns prepared with electric eel AChE while the lowest sensitivity was shown by the bioanalytical columns prepared with horst serum BuChE. The differences in responses for different enzymes were found to be less pronounced when the contact time between the enzyme and the pesticide is long enough (low flow rates). The optimal flow rate was chosen as a compromise between the duration of analysis and reasonably low limits of detection. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.