A COLORIMETRIC METHOD FOR THE MICRO-DETERMINATION OF 2,2, BIS(P-CHLOROPHENYL) 1,1,1 TRICHLORETHANE (DDT)

A colorimetric method for the micro-determination of 2,2 bis(p-chlorophenyl) 1,1,1 trichlorethane (DDT) is presented. The test is based on the discovery that when DDT is heated in an anhydrous pyridine solution containing xanthydrol and solid potassium hydroxide a red color develops, which under proper conditions is proportional to the amount of DDT present. The reaction is sensitive to as little as 10 gammas of DDT. It will detect small differences in concentration within the range of 10 to 200 gammas. The test is relatively simple and can be run in a comparatively short time.