Semi-Preparative Reverse Phase HPLC Fractionation of Pesticides from Edible Fats and Oils

Abstract

A semi-preparative (25 cm × 9.4 mm i.d.) HPLC ODS-bonded silica column was evaluated for the fractionation of pesticides from edible fats and oils of both animal and vegetable origin. Using acetonitrile as a mobile phase, organochlorine and organophosphorous pesticides with a wide range of polarity were eluted in the first 40 ml of eluate. Co-eluted lipid material ranged from 0 to 35 mg for 500 mg injections, depending on sample type. Excessively “dirty” samples (e.g., tallow) were further cleaned up on small Florisil columns. Recoveries of selected pesticides from fortified samples, which were determined by gas chromatography with electron capture and flame photometric detectors, ranged from 80 to 108%.