Sandro Navickiene

Determination of pesticide residues in coconut water by liquid: liquid extraction and gas chromatography with electron-capture plus thermionic specific detection and solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection

Two simple methods were developed to determine 11 pesticides in coconut water, a natural isotonic drink rich in salts, sugars and vitamins consumed by the people and athletes. The first procedure involves solid-phase extraction using Sep-Pak Vac C18 disposable cartridges with methanol for elution. Isocratic analysis was carried out by means of high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection at 254 nm to analyse captan, chlorothalonil, carbendazim, lufenuron and diafenthiuron. The other procedure is based on liquid-liquid extraction with hexane-dichloromethane (1:1, v/v), followed by gas chromatographic analysis with effluent splitting to electron-capture detection for determination of endosulfan, captan, tetradifon and trichlorfon and thermionic specific detection for determination of malathion, parathion-methyl and monocrotophos. The methods were validated with fortified samples at different concentration levels (0.01-12.0 mg/kg). Average recoveries ranged from 75 to 104% with relative standard deviations between 1.4 and 11.5%. Each recovery analysis was repeated at least five times. Limits of detection ranged from 0.002 to 2.0 mg/kg. The analytical procedures were applied to 15 samples and no detectable amounts of the pesticides were found in any samples under the conditions described.

A simplified method for the determination of fenpropathrin residues in fruits

SummaryA simple and efficient method is described for the determination of fenpropathrin in oranges, pears, apples and strawberries. The procedure is based on the extraction of each homogenized fruit sample with hexane:acetone (1∶1, v/v) mixture, followed by a cleanup technique on a column packed with florisil, using a hexane:ethyl ether (7∶3, v/v) mixture, and gas chromatographic analysis with electron capture detection (ECD). The fortification levels (0.5;1.0;2.0 mg kg−1) were selected according to the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established for fenpropathrin by Brazilian legislation. Mean recoveries from five replicates of fortified fruit samples ranged from 83 % to 98%, with coefficients of variation from 1.4 to 13.5 and detection limits varying from 0.1 to 0.2 mg kg−1.

Determination of herbicides residues in soil by small scale extraction

Herbicides such as trifluralin, simazine, atrazine, metribuzin and metolachlor are used in Brazilian agriculture. The efficiency of a small scale method for determination of these herbicides and two degradation products (deisopropylatrazine and deethylatrazine) in soil samples was evaluated. The compounds were extracted from soil samples (5 g) with 20 ml of ethyl acetate in a mechanical shaker for 50 min. Following the extraction, the supernatant was dried through anhydrous sodium sulphate, concentrated and analysed by high resolution gas chromatography (HRGC) with thermionic specific detection (TSD). Mean recoveries obtained from soil samples fortified at three different levels ranged from 81 to 115% with relative standard deviation (RSD) values varying from 1.2 to 12.7%. The method detection limits ranged from 0.01 to 0.06 mg kg-1. The methodology was applied using soil samples from farms located near the town of Araraquara, in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Prochloraz residue levels in ginger submitted to Sportak 450 CE" postharvest treatment

Um estudo preliminar foi realizado para determinar os niveis de concentracao de procloraz em amostras de gengibre tratadas por imersao em solucao aquosa com a formulacao Sportak 450 CE (procloraz como ingrediente ativo) nas concentracoes de 450 e 900 µg mL-1, sob condicoes de laboratorio e armazenadas por 15 dias em câmara fria a 10°C e com 89% de UR. Amostras de gengibre tratadas foram analisadas apos 10 e 15 dias do armazenamento. Os residuos de procloraz foram analisados por CG-DCE. Os niveis encontrados variaram entre 3,6 e 10,6 mg Kg-1 para procloraz.

A simplified procedure for determination of clofentezine residues in fruits by liquid chromatography with UV detection

A rapid and sensitive method is described for the determination of clofentezine residues in apple, papaya, mango and orange. The procedure is based on the extraction of the sample with a hexane:ethyl acetate mixture (1:1, v/v) and liquid chromatographic analysis using UV detection. Mean recoveries from 4 replicates of fortified fruit samples ranged from 81% to 96%, with coefficients of variation from 8.9% to 12.5%. The detection and quantification limits of the method were of 0.05 and 0.1 mg kg-1, respectively.

A Simple and Rapid Extraction for Gas Chromatographic Determination of Thiabendazole and Imazalil Residues in Lemons

A rapid and efficient method is described for the determination of thiabendazole and imazalil residues in lemons (peel and pulp). The procedure is based on the extraction with an hexane:ethyl acetate mixture (1:1, v/v) and gas chromatographic analysis using thermionic specific detection (TSD). The possibility of matrix effect was also studied. Mean recoveries from 8 replicates of fortified samples ranged from 79% to 109%, with relative standard deviation values between 2.4% to 12.8%. The detection and quantification limits of the method were 0.2 mg kg-1 and 0.5 mg kg-1, respectively.