Analysis of isoproturon at trace level by solid phase competitive fluoroimmunosensing after enrichment in a sol-gel immunosorbent

Abstract Isoproturon was extracted selectively from environmental materials (water samples) using an immunosorbent column containing anti-isoproturon antibodies encapsulated in a silica matrix by a sol–gel process. A phosphate buffered saline (PBS) conditioned immunosorbent column was used to on-line preconcentrate 5 ml well and tap water containing 0.05 μg l−1 of isoproturon, which were desorbed with 75 μl of citric acid and determined with a solid phase competitive fluoroimmunoassay. The solid phase of the immunosensor, consisting of a sol–gel glass doped with anti-isoproturon monoclonal antibody, was placed on the flow-cell of the spectrofluorometer. Free isoproturon in solution competed with a fluorescent conjugated isoproturon and reduced the support bonded fluorescence in a concentration-dependent manner. The on-line method has a detection limit of 9.7 ng l−1, relative standard deviation of 4 and 3% for 0.05 and 0.5 μg l−1, respectively, and recoveries higher than 90% for tap and well water. For comparison the off-line extraction and clean up using a C18 cartridge is also reported.