Multiresidue analysis of insecticides in soil by gas chromatography with electron–capture detection and confirmation by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A rapid multiresidue method has been developed for the analysis of nine insecticides (organochlorines, pyrethroids and organophosphorus) in soil. The method is based on the sonication extraction of residues from a certain amount of soil placed in a small column, using ethyl acetate. The effect of the residence time of insecticides in soil, the material of the columns used (glass or plastic columns) and the soil moisture content on the recovery of these compounds was also studied. Residues were determined by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. The average recovery through the method obtained for these compounds varied from 90 to 108% with a relative standard deviation between 1 and 11%. The results of this study pointed out that the recoveries of insecticide residues obtained with plastic or glass columns at different soil moisture content were similar and that the residence of these compounds in soil during several days did not affect their recovery from soil. Confirmation of residue identity was performed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry.