Capillary gas chromatography—atomic emission detection: A useful instrumental method in pesticide residue analysis of plant foodstuffs

The high selectivity of element-specific atomic emission detection has proven suitable for screening analysis of plant foodstuffs for pesticide residues by capillary gas chromatography, especially for those foodstuffs which contain high levels of matrix compounds. The elemental composition of a peak can, furthermore, be examined by looking at the partial emission spectra recorded during a GC run. This instrumental feature prevents false positive signal interpretation as a result of high concentration levels of eluting matrix compounds.