A fully automated immunosensor for the herbicide glyphosate has been developed on the basis of the immunocomplex capture assay protocol. The sensor carries out on-line analyte derivatization prior to the assay and uses a selective anti-glyphosate serum, a glyphosate peroxidase enzyme tracer, and fluorescent detection. Under optimal conditions, the detection limit achieved is 0.021 microg/L with an analysis rate of 25 min per assay, autonomy of more than 48 h, and sensor reusability >500 analytical cycles. The immunosensor is able to discriminate structurally related molecules, such as aminomethylphosphonic acid, the main metabolite of glyphosate, and other related herbicides, such as glufosinate and glyphosine. Interferences from naturally occurring species (anions, cations, and humic substances) and their elimination were also studied. The immunosensor has been successfully applied to water and soil sample analysis, with good recoveries at levels lower than 1 microg/L. Results obtained with the immunosensor correlate well with data from a magnetic particle ELISA and LC/LC/MS chromatographic method.

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A sensitive and highly selective enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed for triclosan, one of the most common bactericides in personal care products, which is also considered as an emerging contaminant, given its presence in the effluents of sewage and wastewater treatment plants. From synthesized haptens, polyclonal rabbit antibodies against triclosan were raised. The best ELISA immunoassay was based on an antibody-coated format, yielding a detection limit of 0.03 microg L(-1), an I50 of 3.85 microg L(-1), and a dynamic range from 0.22 to 42.16 microg L(-1), with little or no cross-reactivity (< 10%) to similarly structured compounds, including its metabolite methyltriclosan (CR < 6%). The assay was applied as a screening method to quantify triclosan in surface water and in wastewaters. After C18 solid-phase extraction, nanogram per liter concentrations were determined in effluents of urban wastewater treatment plants. The satisfactory recoveries achieved as well as the agreement between immunochemical and chromatographic methods (GC-MS) indicate its potential for either screening or laboratory quantification.

Malathion is an organophosphorus insecticide commonly used in crops and indoor applications. Negative effects of malathion on human health and ecosystems are of growing concern. In this work, novel malathion haptens are synthesized to develop an ELISA screening method. The immunoassay is based on a conjugate-coated format and shows a limit of detection of 0.11 ng/mL, an IC50 of 1.58 ng/mL, a dynamic range between 0.23 and 10.94 ng/ mL, and a cross-reactivity of <2% with structurally related compounds. The developed ELISA has been used to quantify malathion in groundwater and surface water samples. The good recoveries achieved and the agreement with those given by the GC-MS reference method indicate the potential of the assay for environmental monitoring of malathion in natural waters without purification or preconcentration steps. The effect of dissolved organic matter (humic acids) on the ELISA was evaluated, resulting in the conclusion that the immunoassay can be successfully performed in surface water samples with a humic acid content up to 10 mg/L, without sample pretreatment. Samples with a high humic acid content can be analyzed through ELISA after solid-phase extraction, eluting with acetone or acetonitrile.