Simple one-step extraction and cleanup by pressurized liquid extraction for gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of pesticides in green leafy vegetables.

A simple one-step extraction and cleanup using a pressurized liquid extraction method was developed for the gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of pesticides in vegetables. The pressurized liquid extraction conditions were optimized and cleanup agents were evaluated. The investigated pesticides included six insecticides, chlorpyrifos methyl, pirimiphos-methyl, malathion, chlorpyrifos, O-ethyl O-4-nitrophenylphenyl phosphonothioate (EPN) and permethrins, a fungicide, isoprothiolane, and a herbicides, thiobencarb. The cleanup agent and a mixture of the vegetable and anhydrous sodium sulfate were separately packed in an extraction vessel. A transparent and colorless extract was obtained using graphitized carbon as the cleanup agent. The overall recoveries were 71-103% and the relative standard deviations ranged from 5.6 to 24%. The limit of detection values were 3-8 microg kg(-1). This method was successfully applied to green leafy vegetables.