Simultaneous evaluation of neonicotinoids in cotton seed cake using reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography

• Published in: Journal of the science of food and agriculture 2009-05, Vol.89 (7), p.1250-1252
• Main Authors: Mohan, Chander, Kumar, Yogesh, Madan, Jyotsana, Saxena, Navneet, Lal, D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy; Biological and medical sciences; Chromatography; Cotton; cotton seed cake; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HPLC; insecticide; Insecticides; multiresidue; neonicotinoids; Studies
• ISSN: 0022-5142; 1097-0010
• DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.3567

BACKGROUND: The cotton crop accounts for more than 52% of total insecticide usage in India. Neonicotinoids, being newer insecticides, have found greater use in the northern region. In this study a rapid and sensitive high‐performance liquid chromatography method was developed for measuring neonicotinoid residues in cotton seed cake (CSC). The method involves the extraction of three neonicotinoids from CSC with acetonitrile/water (80:20 v/v), followed by liquid–liquid partitioning and column clean‐up prior to injection. RESULTS: Recoveries at 0.5–2 µg g−1 spiking levels varied from 95.60 to 79.50% for imidacloprid, from 92.89 to 84.00% for acetamiprid and from 96.96 to 88.36% for thiacloprid. Minimum detectable levels using this method were 5, 10 and 20 ng g−1 for imidacloprid, acetamiprid and thiacloprid respectively. CONCLUSION: The method developed in this study allows rapid and reliable measurement of the insecticides imidacloprid, acetamiprid and thiacloprid in CSC. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry