DETERMINATION OF N-METHYLCARBAMATE PESTICIDES IN FOODS USING AN ACCELERATED SOLVENT-EXTRACTION WITH A MINICOLUMN CLEANUP

Residual N-methylcarbamate pesticides in food were determined by accel erated solvent extraction (ASE) and HPLC with post-column fluorescence . Pesticides were extracted with acetonitrile at 100 degrees C under 2 000 psi pressure in less than 20 min. Extracts were cleaned-up with a carboxylic acid mini-column eluted with 10% or 30% acetone in hexane. Eight foods were spiked with 17 pesticides at 0.2 ppm. The average rec overies of these pesticides were 70-100% and the relative standard dev iations were <10%. These results suggested that ASE can be used to ext ract residues of N-methylcarbamate pesticides in foods.