Gas chromatographic determination of ametryn and its metabolites in tropical root crops

Residue analysis of the herbicide ametryn (2-methylthio-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) is widely known but an analytical method for determining its metabolites has not yet been reported in the literature. A method has been developed for the extraction and determination of ametryn and 3 metabolites, 2-methylthio-4-amino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine (GS-11354), 2-methylthio-4,6-diamino-s-triazine (GS-26831), and 2-methylthio-4-amino-6-ethylamino-s-triazine (GS-11355) in taniers , yams , cassava. Residues were extracted from crops with ethyl acetate-toluene (3 + 1 v/v), using a Polytron homogenizer and anhydrous sodium sulfate added for drying. The extracts were cleaned up by automated gel permeation chromatography on Bio-Beads SX-3 gel in the same solvent system. Quantitative determination was performed by gas chromatographic (GC) analysis on a column packed with 5% DEGS -PS on 100-120 mesh Supelcoport using either an N-P detector or a flame photometric detector ( FPD ) in the sulfur mode. Minimum detection by the flame photometric detector is 10 ng each for ametryn , GS-11354, and GS-11355 and 21 ng for GS-26831; by the N-P detector, 0.3 ng of each component gives easily quantitatable peaks. On a parts per million basis, starting with 25 g sample, the FPD detected a minimum level of 0.04 microgram/g each for ametryn , GS-11354, and GS-11355, and 0.08 microgram/g for GS-26831. The N-P detector could detect 0.0024 microgram/g for all 4 compounds. In addition to superior sensitivity, instrumental conditions allowed the complete separation of components in 10 min, for the N-P detector; more than 30 min was required for the FPD . Recoveries from fortified crops ranged from 67 to 111% at levels of 0.1-1.0 microgram/g.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of zoalene and its metabolites in chicken tissues with electrochemical detection

A procedure is described for the quantitation of Zoalene (3,5-dinitro-o-toluamide) and its 2 major monoamino metabolites in chicken tissues. The method includes blender extraction of tissue with chloroformethyl acetate (1 + 1), adsorption of the drug and metabolites on neutral alumina, and subsequent elution of the residues with pH 3.5 formate buffer-methanol (6.5 + 3.5). Recovered residues were separated on a 5 micron C18 column with the alumina eluting solvent as the LC mobile phase. The parent drug and metabolites were detected and quantitated with an electrochemical detector in the reductive mode with a minimum level of reliable measurement of 0.1 ppm. Overall mean recoveries greater than 85% were obtained with Zoalene and its 2 monoamino metabolites in breast, thigh, and liver tissues fortified with 0.25-2.00 ppm. The results on tissues from chickens fed a diet containing 0.0125% Zoalene are presented.     

Gas chromatographic determination of deoxynivalenol in wheat

Modifications to a published method are described for the determination of deoxynivalenol (DON) in wheat by gas chromatography with electron capture quantitation of the heptafluorobutyrate derivative. In the modified method, DON is extracted by shaking the sample with methanol-water on a wrist-action shaker, followed by filtration through rapid flow paper. One concentration step is eliminated, and a hexane wash is incorporated to remove toluene from the silica gel column. Recoveries of DON from wheat samples spiked at 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 ppm ranged from 77.3 to 86.3% and averaged 81.5%.     

Gas chromatographic determination of pentachlorophenol in gelatin

A method is described for the determination of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in gelatin. The method employs acid and heat to hydrolyze the gelatin matrix, a base partition and wash for separation and cleanup, and a reacidification and extraction with hexane for direct determination of PCP, without preparation of a derivative, using gas chromatography (GC) with a 1% SP- 124ODA liquid phase and a 63Ni electron capture detector. Recoveries averaged 106% for fortifications between 0.02 and 1.0 ppm. The limit of quantitation is 20 ppb. The limit of detection is 4-6 ppb. The method, which has undergone a successful intralaboratory trial, is simple and rapid, and requires only general laboratory reagents and equipment. GC of the acetate derivative of PCP is used for confirmation of identity.     

Gas chromatographic determination of picloram in fish

A simple method for determining picloram in fish is described. The sample is homogenized with ethyl acetate, acidified with 1N HCl, and extracted twice more with ethyl acetate. Ethyl acetate fractions are pooled, derivatized with diazomethane, cleaned up by column chromatography, and analyzed by electron capture gas chromatography. Rainbow trout exposed to 14C-picloram were used to evaluate the efficiency of 2 methods of extraction and to provide data on the rate of uptake and the bioconcentration factor. The detection limit for this method is 5 ng/g, using a 4 g sample.     

Gas chromatographic determination of glucono-delta-lactone in foods

A method is described for the gas chromatographic (GC) determination of glucono-delta-lactone in foods. A sample was homogenized with 60-70 degrees C water and filtered. The filtrate was buffered with NH4OH-NH4Cl pH 10 solution, and was passed through a QAE-Sephadex A25 column. The column was washed with water and glucono-delta-lactone was eluted with 0.1N HCl. An aliquot of the eluate was evaporated to dryness and derivatized with pyridine, N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide, and trimethylchlorosilane at room temperature. GC separation of glucono-delta-lactone as the TMS derivative was performed on a 2% OV-17 column at 180 degrees C. Recoveries from bread, jelly, soybean curd, and other foods fortified with 0.1% glucono-delta-lactone ranged from 92 to 106%, with standard deviations from 2.2 to 9.8%. The detection limit was approximately 0.025%.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of depletion of bithionol sulfoxide and its two major metabolites in bovine milk

A liquid chromatographic method is described for determining bithionol sulfoxide and its metabolites, bithionol and bithionol sulfone, in milk. Samples are treated with HCl to precipitate proteins and to permit extraction of bithionol sulfoxide in nonionized form. Tetrahydrofuran is added to the organic phase to facilitate extraction in diethyl ether; the dried residue is dissolved in chloroform, hexane, and sodium hydroxide and subjected to LC analysis. Residues of bithionol sulfoxide and its 2 metabolites were determined in milk of lactating cows. Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were administered a single oral dose of bithionol sulfoxide (50 mg/kg). Milk samples were analyzed with a reliable detection level of 0.025 microgram/mL for each compound. Residues of bithionol sulfoxide and bithionol were detected during 30 and 16 milkings, respectively; bithionol sulfone was never present at detectable levels.     

Gas chromatographic determination of total iodine in foods

A gas chromatographic (GC) method has been developed for determination of total iodine in foods, based on the reaction of iodine with 3-pentanone. Organic matter of a sample is destroyed by an alkaline ashing technique. Iodide in a water extract of the ash residues is oxidized to free iodine by adding dichromate in the presence of sulfuric acid. Liberated iodine is reacted with 3-pentanone to form 2-iodo-3-pentanone, extracted into n-hexane, and then determined by gas chromatography with an electron-capture detector. Recoveries of iodide from spiked food samples ranged from 91.4 to 99.6%. Detection limit for iodine is 0.05 micrograms/g.     

Gas chromatographic determination of cholesterol in egg products

A method has been developed for quantification of cholesterol in fresh egg yolks, spray-dried egg yolks, fresh whole eggs, and spray-dried whole eggs. The method uses saponification followed by petroleum ether extraction of cholesterol. Separation of organic and aqueous layers is enhanced by sodium chloride. Petroleum ether extracts are dried under nitrogen and redissolved in chloroform-methanol (2 + 1) for injection into a gas chromatograph. Cholesterol is separated and quantitated on a high temperature capillary column coated with 5% diphenyl and 95% dimethyl polysilicone crosslinked gum. The method was compared with the current AOAC method 17.017-17.022, and results indicated no significant difference (alpha = 0.05). However, the proposed method allowed separation and analysis of 16 samples in 7 h while the current AOAC method allowed separation and analysis of only 4 samples in 9 h.     

Gas chromatographic determination of oxalic acid in foods

A new quantitative gas chromatographic (GC) method has been developed for the determination of oxalic acid in foods. Solid sample is extracted with water (soluble oxalic acid) or 2N hydrochloric acid (total oxalic acid) at room temperature. An aliquot of sample extract is evaporated to dryness, and the oxalic acid in the residue is methylated with 7% hydrochloric acid-methanol. The reaction mixture is extracted with chloroform, and dimethyl oxalate is quantitated by GC. Recovery of oxalic acid added to liquid samples averaged 100.6%; recoveries from extracts of solid samples were 96.2-99.5 and 97.2-100.1% for water and hydrochloric acid extractions, respectively. Results are shown for determination of oxalic acid in spinach and beverages. The technique is simple, rapid, and accurate, and small samples may be used. The limit of determination is 20 micrograms.     

Gas chromatographic determination of clopidol in chicken tissues

A method has been developed for the determination of clopidol residues in chicken tissues. After extraction and cleanup, clopidol is esterified in a 2-phase system to clopidol propionate, which is determined by gas chromatography. The 2-phase system includes, in addition to the clopidol dissolved in methanol, aqueous borax solution, hexane, propionic anhydride, and pyridine. Use of these reagents precludes the use of explosive or carcinogenic chemicals in the derivatization step, and the method is therefore suitable for routine laboratory analysis. Levels of 0.5 ppb clopidol in tissue can be determined.     

Gas-liquid chromatographic determination of captan and two metabolites in milk and meat

A gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC) method has been developed for the determination of captan (N-trichloromethylthio-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboximide) and 2 metabolites, tetra-hydrophthalimide (THPI) and tetrahydrophthalamic acid (THPMA), in milk and meat. The sample is extracted with ethyl acetate and is cleaned up by acetonitrile partition and silica gel chromatography where captan, THPI, and THPMA are separated. Captan is directly determined by GLC. THPI and THPMA are separately derivatized in an acetone solution of pentafluorobenzyl bromide. The resultant derivatives are purified separately on an Al2O3 column and quantitated by GLC, using an electron capture detector. Recoveries from milk samples fortified at 0.02-10 ppm ranged from 71 to 102%; recoveries from meat samples fortified at 0.04-10 ppm ranged from 75 to 99%.     

Gas chromatographic determination of ethylene dibromide in flour products

A method based on gas chromatography with electron capture detection was developed for the determination of ethylene dibromide (EDB) extracted from flour products. The procedure relies on the organic extraction of flour/water mixtures and uses an internal standard, 1-bromo-3-chloropropane. Recoveries of EDB at 10 and 100 ppb were 80.1 +/- 2.8% (SD) and 84.4 +/- 4.3%, respectively; recovery of the internal standard at the working concentration 500 ppb was 98.3 +/- 6.7%. Calibration curves were linear over the range 5-400 ppb, with a mean overall coefficient of variation of less than 5%. The reliability of the procedure was assessed by using gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. Results are shown for determination of EDB in locally milled flour products.