On-line liquid chromatography—gas chromatography for determination of fenarimol in fruiting vegetables

Abstract

The fungicide fenarimol was determined in fruiting vegetables such as cucumbers, tomatoes and sweet peppers by an on-line LC—GC method. The sample was extracted with ethyl acetate and the extract cleaned by a LiChrosorb Si 50 HPLC column. Pre-treatment of the silica column with ethyl acetate, saturated with water, provided separation between fenarimol and matrix components and gave a reproducible retention behaviour of fenarimol. Introduction into the gas chromatograph was achieved via the loop-type interface technique. After effluent splitting, fenarimol was detected with flame ionisation detection (FID) and electron-capture detection (ECD). The linearity range of fenarimol was 0.02–0.45 mg/kg with FID. Owing to insufficient linearity ECD was used only for confirmation. The detection limit was 0.02 mg/kg, the average recovery 93% (76–110%) and the relative standard deviation 4%. The results of the LC—GC method were comparable with the present off-line method, but less toxic solvent was needed and on-line LC-GC method was less time-intensive.