Rtx®-CLPesticides Columns

This guide discusses analytical methods for monitoring halogenated pollutants in a wide variety of matrices including water, solids (soils and plant materials), and biota (fish and animal tissue). Classes of compounds such as chlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlorinated herbicides, disinfection byproducts, and fumigants are among the pollutants addressed here. Gas chromatography (GC) combined with electron capture detection (ECD) is a common technique used for analyzing these compounds.

Many chlorinated pesticides have been banned for use because of their short- and long-term toxicity, carcinogenicity, and environmental persistence. An expanded list of these chemicals, some of which are still actively applied in the field, has been included in the updated U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 8081B. Despite the fact that most of these chlorinated pesticides are now illegal to use, manufacture, and transport in the U.S., organochlorine compounds are still a potential source of pesticide poisoning. Although most of these chlorinated pesticides have limited water solubility and mobility, they do bioaccumulate and persist in the environment. Since there is an ongoing risk for exposure from a number of sources, it is still essential to test soils, wastewater, and sediments for their presence.

Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe, the QuEChERS method for extracting pesticides from food is based on research by the US Department of Agriculture. In addition to using less solvent and materials versus conventional SPE methods, QuEChERS employs a novel and much quicker dispersive solid phase extraction cleanup (dSPE). QuEChERS methods, including an AOAC Official Method and modifications to the methods, have been posted on the internet. This application note discusses a general QuEChERS method and highlights the basic steps these methods have in common.

Olive oil is considered a healthy fat source and is a staple in many recommended diets. However, concerns about potentially negative health effects associated with pesticide residues have increased consumer interest in testing. There are several existing methods for measuring pesticide residues in olive oil, all of which involve sample extraction and cleanup. The common goal of these methods is to remove lipids that are harmful to the analytical system. Efficient sample cleanup procedures are critical to maximizing sample throughput and minimizing labor and material costs. This application note demonstrates the efficiency of a dSPE cleanup procedure, as well as the capabilities of a method-specific analytical column.

This application note compares the performance of Rtx®-CLPesticides and Rtx®-CLPesticides2 columns to a competitor’s CLP column set using helium, hydrogen, and nitrogen carrier gases. These column sets differ in selectivity, and since proprietary Rtx®-CLPesticides and Rtx®-CLPesticides2 columns were developed specifically for organochlorine pesticides analysis by GC-ECD, their unique column selectivities provide optimal resolution and fast analysis times whether operated using helium, hydrogen, or nitrogen carrier gases.

Over the past few years, the increasing costs and uncertain availability of helium have prompted many labs to explore alternate carrier gas options. This application note compares the performance of Rtx®-CLPesticides and Rtx®-CLPesticides2 columns to a competitor’s CLP column set using helium, hydrogen, and nitrogen carrier gases for a frequently used dual-column GC-ECD method. These column sets differ in selectivity, and since proprietary Rtx®-CLPesticides and Rtx®-CLPesticides2 columns were developed specifically for organochlorine pesticides analysis by GC-ECD, their unique column selectivities provide optimal resolution and fast analysis times whether operated using helium, hydrogen, or nitrogen carrier gases.