Development and validation of the high-performance liquid chromatography method for estimating N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide in granular fertilisers

Abstract

N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide is widely used as a urease inhibitor that can reduce nitrogen loss by ammonia evaporation from urea. It is used as a fertiliser additive in agricultural applications. The recommended doses of inhibitors are not dangerous to animals and the environment, but high doses can cause changes in small animals. Therefore, the amount of inhibitors in the fertiliser must be determined before fertilising the soil.
This study developed and validated a reliable, sensitive, rapid, and precise high-performance liquid chromatography method for the quantification of N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide in granular fertilisers. The estimation was carried out using a YMC-Triat C18 column (150 × 4.6 mm, 3 mm) and the mobile phase of acetonitrile: deionised water (25:75, v/v). Inhibition efficiency was monitored by a UV detector at 205 nm. The total run time was 10 min with a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. The parameters considered for validation were linearity, detection and quantification limit, sustainability, robustness, precision, and stability. The newly created innovative method for quantitative estimation of N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide in granular fertilisers improves the solubility of samples and standard substance the repeatability and reproducibility of the results obtained.