A MODIFIED HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF THIABENDAZOLE IN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WITH ELISA CONFIRMATION

A rapid modified high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the analysis of the benzimidazole fungicide thiaben dazole (TBZ) in fresh produce. Changes were in the extraction techniqu e and HPLC mobile phase. TBZ was extracted from the produce by either polytroning 10 g in 20 mL of methanol for 3 minutes or shaking, by han d, a 5 or 10 g sample in 20 mt of methanol for 10 minutes. A 50 mu L a liquot was injected directly into an isocratic fluorescent HPLC system . Total analysis time ranged from 8 to 15 minutes per sample depending upon the extraction procedure employed. Percent recoveries averaged 9 0% with excellent reproducibility (%CVs from 0 to 18). For enzyme link ed immunosorbent assay (ELISA) confirmation a 0.1 mL aliquot of the sa mple was removed and evaporated to dryness under air. The residue was dissolved in water before performing the ELISA.