Automated multiresidue analysis of pesticides in olive oil by on-line reversed-phase liquid chromatography–gas chromatography using the through oven transfer adsorption–desorption interface

A multiresidue, automated and rapid method for the determination of pesticide residues in olive oil is presented. The method employs the through oven transfer adsorption–desorption interface for the on-line coupling of reversed-phase liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. In this fully automated system, olive oil is directly injected with no sample pre-treatment step other than filtration. Methanol–water is used as eluent in the liquid chromatography pre-separation step. The selected liquid chromatography fraction containing the pesticides is automatically transferred to the gas chromatography. The liquid chromatography column flow during elution is different from the flow during the transfer. Using a flame ionisation detector, pesticide detection limits varied from 0.1 to 0.3 mg/l.