Gas Chromatographic Determination of Trace Amounts of the Insect Chemosterilants Tepa, Metepa, Methiotepa, Hempa, and Apholate and the Analysis of Tepa in Insect Tissue

Abstract

Abstract A gas chromatographic method, sensitive to as little as 0.1 nanogram, was devised for analysis of the insect chemosterilants tepa, metepa, methiotepa, hempa, and apholate. The method is needed to monitor amounts and persistence of chemosterilant in treated insects. The procedure uses a flame-photometric detector. Response is linear (phosphorus analysis) between 0.1 and at least 200 ng. The procedure was shown to be directly applicable to analysis of methanol extracts of insects fed tepa. Concurrent gas chromatographic and radiometric analyses indicated that the radiometric method would not give satisfactory results without a suitable cleanup, whereas virtually no cleanup was required for the gas chromatographic analysis. The gas chromatographic method is rapid and easily carried out.