Voltammetric determination of the synthetic pyrethroid insecticide tetramethrin in acetonitrile

The synthetic pyrethroid insecticide tetramethrin may be reduced reversibly (E degrees' = -1.650 V vs Ag/Ag+) in acetonitrile at hanging mercury drop electrodes (HMDE) and glassy carbon electrodes. On the voltammetric time scale, the initial electron-transfer process involves the reversible formation of a radical anion. Data obtained from electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy indicate that the unpaired electron of the radical is located within the phthalimide system of the molecule. The radical anion may be further reduced at very negative applied potentials with the number of processes being dependent on the nature of the voltammetric technique. The detection limit (3 sigma) for the determination of tetramethrin in acetonitrile at a glassy carbon electrode, using differential pulse voltammetry, was found to be 2.1 x 10(-6) M. At a HMDE the detection limit is lower, having a value of 9.6 x 10(-7) M. The limit of determination (10 sigma) at a glassy carbon electrode is 3.5 x 10(-6) M and at a HMDE is 3.0 x 10(-6) M. Tetramethrin was selectively determined in an insecticide formulation, at a glassy carbon electrode using differential pulse voltammetry, at a concentration (w/v) of 0.34 +/- 0.02%. The determined concentration is in good agreement with the stated value of 0.350 +/- 0.018% (w/v).