Development of an analytical method based on microwave-assisted extraction and solid phase extraction cleanup for the determination of organochlorine pesticides in animal feed

A method to determine 21 organochlorine pesticides in animal feed samples using microwave assisted extraction and solid phase extraction cleanup was optimised regarding its main parameters. After extraction with hexane–acetone (50:50), three different sorbents (alumina/ENVI™-Florisil®, ENVI™-Carb and ENVI™-Carb II/PSA) were assayed for the cleanup step. Analytes were eluted with hexane–ethyl acetate (80:20) and determined by gas chromatography and electron capture detection followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. ENVI™-Carb and ENVI™-Carb II/PSA provided colourless eluates but fewer interferent compounds were found in ENVI™-Carb II/PSA chromatograms, so this system was selected to carry out the purification of the extracts. The analytical recoveries obtained with this method were close to 100% in most cases with relative standard deviations lower than 10%. These percentages were similar to those obtained with the Soxhlet extraction procedure, which shows the method suitable for the determination of organochlorine pesticides in animal feed material. The method was also validated with the analysis of a certified reference material (CRM-115 BCR®), and the results obtained were in good accordance with the certified values.