A toxic reagent-free method for normal-phase matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction and reversed-phase liquid chromatographic determination of aldrin,dieldrin, and DDTs in animal fats

A method for the determination of aldrin, dieldrin, DDT, DDE, and DDD contamination in animal fats (beef tallow, lard, and chicken fat) without using toxic reagents is developed, that uses high-performance liquid chromatography after the sample has been prepared by matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) with acidic alumina oxide. A reversed-phase C₁-silica column with a mobile phase of 50% (v/v) ethanol solution (in water) and a photo-diode array detector were used for the determination. Average recoveries of the target compounds (0.2–5.0 g g^–1) ranged from 84–98%, with coefficients of variation of <5%. The limits of quantitation were 0.16 g g^–1 for AD, 0.10 g g^–1 for DD, 0.06 g g^–1 for DDT, 0.07 g g^–1 for DDE, and 0.05 g g^–1 for DDD. No toxic reagents were used at all.