Determination of Organophosphorus Psticides in Water, Vegetables and Grain by Automated SPE and MEKC

Abstract

A sensitive method for the multi-residue analysis of organophosphorus pesticides in environmental samples has been developed. It involves an automated solid phase extraction procedure using a Gilson ASPEC XLi and capillary electrophoresis analysis with UV detection. Acephate, methamidophos, dichlorvos, dicrotophos and malathion could be separated by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography using an electrophoretic electrolyte containing 20 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.5) and 75 mM sodium dodecyl sulphate. A linear relationship between concentration and peak area was obtained within the range 0.2–450 g mL⁻¹ with correlation coefficients greater than 0.996 and detection limits between 7 and 150 ng mL⁻¹. Intra- and inter-day precision values of about 0.8–2.3% RSD (n=11) and 0.9–3.0% RSD (n=15), respectively were obtained. When the preconcentration step was used, an enrichment factor of 250 was easily achieved in the analysis of water samples, making it possible to determinate pesticide residues at concentration levels as low as 0.04 ng mL⁻¹. In analyses of vegetables and grains, the sensitivity levels were about 0.03 μg⁻¹.