SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC DETERMINATION OF CARBOFURAN IN COMMERCIAL SAMPLES BY OXIDATION WITH POTASSIUM FERRICYANIDE

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of carbofuran has been studied. Method comprises of alkaline hydrolysis of the pesticide and the resulting phenol is reacted with potassium ferricyanide. The dye product formed has maximum absorption at 475 nm. Various factors affecting the formation of complex have been investigated. A linear calibration curve, over the range 17.7 μg ml-1 to 106.22 μg ml-1 with molar absorptivity 4.66X102 l mol-1cm-1, is obtained. Correlation coefficient, slope and intercept have been calculated as 0.992, 198.112 and 1.552 respectively. The performance of the proposed method has been determined in terms of sensitivity and reproducibility.