Chromogenic spray reagent for the detection and identification of amitraz in biological materials

In the present study, we developed a simple, sensitive, and selective thin-layer chromatographic method for the detection and identification of amitraz using chloranil as chromogenic spray. In the first step, amitraz was hydrolized by using 10% sodium hydroxide solution in water to give dimethylaniline (DMA) and N-2,4-dimethylphenyl- N-methyl formamidine (DMPMF). The dimethylaniline further treated with chloranil in acetone gives blue spot. This spray reagent does not react with other organophosphorous, organochloro, carbamate, and synthetic pyrethroid insecticides. This reagent is sensitive and selective only to amitraz. The constituents of viscera (amino acids, peptides, and proteins) do not interfere with the test. The detection limit for amitraz is about 0.7 µg.