Cyanazine Standard: Analytical Reference for Pesticide Testing

Cyanazine Standard is a certified analytical reference material used for the precise quantification and identification of cyanazine herbicide residues in environmental, agricultural, and food safety applications.

Product Name

Cyanazine Standard

SKU

C128235

Chemical Class

Triazine herbicide

Primary Application

Analytical reference standard for herbicide residue quantification

Typical Use Matrices

Water, soil, food commodities, agricultural samples

Recommended Techniques

GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, HPLC

What Is Cyanazine?

Cyanazine (2-chloro-4-(1-cyano-1-methylethylamino)-6-ethylamino-1,3,5-triazine) is a selective triazine herbicide that was widely used in agriculture, particularly for pre- and post-emergent control of broadleaf weeds and grasses in crops such as corn, sorghum, and cotton. It acts by inhibiting photosynthesis through blockade of the photosystem II electron transport chain.

Due to concerns over its persistence in soil and groundwater, as well as potential human health risks including reproductive and developmental toxicity, cyanazine was voluntarily withdrawn from the US market in the late 1990s and is subject to regulatory restrictions in many jurisdictions. Despite this, monitoring of cyanazine residues in environmental matrices and archived samples remains an important analytical task for regulatory agencies, environmental scientists, and food safety laboratories.

Role of Cyanazine Standard in Analytical Chemistry

A certified Cyanazine Standard is an indispensable tool for laboratories performing residue analysis. Reference standards serve as the cornerstone of method development, instrument calibration, and quality assurance programs. By comparing instrument responses against known concentrations of the Cyanazine Standard, analysts can construct accurate calibration curves, calculate recovery rates, and validate the linearity and sensitivity of their methods.

Cyanazine Standard (SKU: C128235) from Aladdin Scientific is intended for use as an analytical reference in techniques such as gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). These chromatographic methods are standard approaches recommended by regulatory bodies for the determination of triazine herbicide residues in water, soil, and food matrices.

Using a high-purity, traceable standard is essential for meeting method performance requirements stipulated by guidelines such as those from the US EPA, EU Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on maximum residue levels, and SANTE/11312/2021 (EU analytical quality control guidance for pesticide residues).

Sample Preparation and Method Considerations

Successful cyanazine residue analysis requires careful attention to sample preparation. For aqueous environmental samples such as drinking water or surface water, solid-phase extraction (SPE) is a common concentration and cleanup technique prior to chromatographic analysis. For complex matrices such as soil or food commodities, QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) extraction followed by dispersive-SPE cleanup is frequently employed.

When preparing calibration standards from the Cyanazine Standard stock solution, analysts should use appropriate solvent systems compatible with the chosen analytical technique (e.g., acetonitrile or methanol for LC-MS/MS; ethyl acetate for GC-based methods). Matrix-matched calibration is recommended when significant matrix effects are anticipated, particularly in LC-MS/MS workflows, to ensure accurate quantification.

Internal standards, such as isotopically labelled analogues of cyanazine where available, can further improve quantitative accuracy by compensating for variability introduced during sample preparation and instrument response fluctuations. Analysts should always verify the stability of working standard solutions and store the Cyanazine Standard as directed on the product documentation to maintain integrity.

Regulatory Context and Maximum Residue Levels

The use and monitoring of cyanazine are governed by various national and international regulatory frameworks. In the United States, the EPA established drinking water health advisories and monitored cyanazine under the Safe Drinking Water Act. In the European Union, cyanazine is not approved for use as a plant protection product, and maximum residue levels (MRLs) for cyanazine in food are set at the default limit of 0.01 mg/kg in many commodity categories under Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

Laboratories tasked with regulatory compliance testing must demonstrate that their analytical methods can reliably detect and quantify cyanazine at or below these MRL thresholds. This demands the use of certified reference standards with documented purity and traceability to ensure that reported results are defensible and meet data quality objectives. The Cyanazine Standard from Aladdin Scientific supports laboratories in achieving and demonstrating this level of analytical performance.

Storage, Safety and Handling

Cyanazine is classified as a potential human carcinogen and reproductive toxicant; therefore, appropriate safety precautions must be observed when handling the Cyanazine Standard. Analysts should wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) including gloves, laboratory coat, and safety glasses. Work should be performed in a well-ventilated area or fume hood. Refer to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) provided with the product for complete hazard information, first-aid measures, and disposal guidance.

For storage, the Cyanazine Standard should be kept in a tightly sealed container, away from heat, light, and moisture. Specific storage temperature requirements should be observed as indicated on the product label and SDS. Working solutions prepared from the standard should be clearly labelled with the analyte name, concentration, preparation date, and expiry date. Unused portions should be disposed of in accordance with local regulations for hazardous chemical waste.

Frequently asked questions

What analytical techniques is Cyanazine Standard (C128235) suitable for?

Cyanazine Standard is suitable for use with GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, and HPLC methods commonly employed for triazine herbicide residue analysis in environmental, food, and agricultural matrices. The appropriate solvent system should be selected based on the technique used.

How should working standard solutions be prepared from the Cyanazine Standard?

Working standard solutions should be prepared by accurately diluting the stock Cyanazine Standard in a solvent compatible with the analytical method (e.g., acetonitrile or methanol for LC-MS/MS; ethyl acetate for GC-MS). All solutions should be labelled with concentration, preparation date, and expiry, and stored under appropriate conditions as specified in the SDS.

Why is matrix-matched calibration recommended for cyanazine analysis by LC-MS/MS?

Complex sample matrices such as food or soil extracts can suppress or enhance the ionisation of cyanazine during LC-MS/MS analysis, leading to inaccurate quantification if solvent-based calibration standards are used. Matrix-matched calibration, where standards are prepared in a blank extract of the same matrix, compensates for these effects and improves the accuracy of reported results.

What are the key safety considerations when handling Cyanazine Standard?

Cyanazine is classified as a potential carcinogen and reproductive toxicant. Handlers must wear appropriate PPE (gloves, lab coat, safety glasses), work in a well-ventilated area or fume hood, and consult the product SDS for full hazard, first-aid, and disposal information. Waste must be disposed of in compliance with local hazardous waste regulations.

Is Cyanazine still used as an active herbicide today?

Cyanazine was voluntarily withdrawn from the US market in the late 1990s due to concerns about groundwater contamination and potential health risks. It is not approved for use in the EU. However, residue monitoring remains important for regulatory compliance, environmental surveillance, and assessment of legacy contamination.

References

1. US Environmental Protection Agency. Cyanazine: Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED). EPA 738-R-94-xxx. US EPA Office of Pesticide Programs.
2. European Commission. Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin.
3. European Commission. SANTE/11312/2021 — Analytical Quality Control and Method Validation Procedures for Pesticide Residues Analysis in Food and Feed.
4. Anastassiades M, Lehotay SJ, Stajnbaher D, Schenck FJ. Fast and easy multiresidue method employing acetonitrile extraction/partitioning and dispersive solid-phase extraction for the determination of pesticide residues in produce. J AOAC Int. 2003;86(2):412-431. PMID:12723926

Products are supplied for research and development use only. Not for use in humans, animals, diagnosis, or therapy.