Determination of the Mothproofing Agent, 4, 6-Dichloro-7-(2, 4, 5-trichlorophenoxy)-2-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole (DTTB) in Wool Fabrics by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

A method for the determination of 4, 6-dichloro-7-(2, 4, 5-trichlorophenoxy)-2-trifluoromethyl-benzimidazole (DTTB), which was used as a mothproofing agent in wool fabrics, was developed. DTTB was extracted with ether from 10% sodium hydroxide solution of wool fabrics, and the purification of the extracts was accomplished by silicagel column chromatography. The purified extracts were dissolved in methanol containing internal standard and then measured by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography on LiChrosolb RP-18. The solution of methanol-water-acetic acid (90 : 9 : 1) was used as the mobile phase and chrysene was used as an internal standard. Detection was accomplished with fluorescence spectrophotometer operated at λex=300 nm and λem=360 nm. Recoveries averaged 84.9% and 99.4% for the untreated carpet to which 2.3μg/g of DTTB was added and the processed fabrics treated with Mitin LA, which is the market products of DTTB, respectively.