Specific spray reagents for the detection of carbaryl by thin-layer chromatography

Abstract

Two specific spray reagents for the detection of the commonly misused carbamate insecticide carbaryl have been developed, viz., (i) 1%m/V copper(II) chloride followed by 0.1% ammonium metavanadate and (ii) 0.5%m/V potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) in 0.5%m/V sodium hydroxide. The former reagent has relatively higher sensitivity for the breakdown product of carbaryl, 1-naphthol, whereas the latter has the same sensitivity for both carbaryl and 1-naphthol, ca. 1 µg.