Enrichment of pyrethroid residues in environmental waters using a multiwalled carbon nanotubes cartridge, and analysis in combination with high performance liquid chromatography

A sensitive method was developed using new carbon nanomaterial, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, as solid phase extraction adsorbents followed by high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection for determination of six pyrethroid pesticides at trace level in environmental water samples. Parameters influencing the extraction efficiency were investigated in detail. Under the optimal conditions, detection limits of 0.7–5.0 ng L−1 were obtained for six pyrethroid pesticides, the linear ranges were between 0.1 and 40 μg L−1 and the precisions were in the range of 2.0–5.8%. The method has been applied to determine the six target compounds in tap water, well water, river water and reservoir water. Good recoveries were obtained for all target analytes and these results indicated that the method developed can be used in the determination of such compounds at trace levels in environmental water samples.