Analytical Sciences

Applicability of Superheated Water Extraction for the Quantification of Pesticide Residues in Leafy Vegetables

Takashi YARITA, Atsuhiko HASEGAWA, and Hiroko TADA

College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1 Chuo, Ami, Inashiki, Ibaraki 300-0393, Japan

Superheated water extraction (SWE) of pesticide residues in a cabbage sample was demonstrated. The recovery yields of several relatively polar pesticides (log P_ow < 3) by the spike-and-recovery method at 100°C were acceptable. Increasing the extraction temperature up to 150°C led to enhanced extraction efficiency except for pesticides that induced degradation. The recovery yields of some target pesticides having log P_ow values of 3.5 – 4 were effectively enhanced by increasing the number of extraction cycles. The observed concentration of fenitrothion in a cabbage sample was comparable with those by the official Japanese analytical method. These results suggested SWE is potentially suitable for the extraction of different relatively high-to-medium polarity pesticides.

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