Rapid gas-liquid chromatographic method for determining residues of ethephon (2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid) in tomatoes.

A rapid method is described for the determination of the growth regulator ethephon (2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid) in tomatoes. Samples are extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract is methylated, decolorized with carbon, and analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography on a column packed with 15% QF-1/10% DC-200 on Chromosorb W (HP). A flame photometric detector is used. Recoveries from tomatoes fortified with 0.1-11.0 ppm ethephon were 78-98%. The sensitivity of this method is about 0.1 ppm.