Determination of organophosphorus pesticides in foods using an accelerated solvent extraction system.

Residual organophosphorus pesticides in foods were determined by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), gel permeation chromatography and GC-FPD. Pesticides were extracted at 100 degrees C under 1500 psi pressure in less than 20 min. Wet samples were extracted after mixing with Extrelut drying agent. Four foods were spiked with 19 pesticides at 0.1 ppm or less. The average recoveries of these pesticides were 80-90% and the precision was < 10%. Both methamidophos and acephate gave 37-50% recoveries and 6-40% precision. These results suggested that ASE can be used to extract residues of organophosphorus pesticides in foods.