Determination of organophosphorus pesticide residues in the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum by solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography with flame photometric detection

A simple and rapid sample preparation method using accelerated solvent extraction and solid-phase extraction (SPE) cleanup for determining organophosphorus (OP) pesticides in the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum was developed. The OP pesticides were concentrated by use of an SPE cartridge (ENVI-Carb) and quantitatively analyzed and confirmed by capillary gas chromatography with flame photometric detection. The pesticides were eluted from the cartridges with 20 mL acetonitrile-toluene (3 + 1, v/v). The average recovery from 10 g P. grandiflorum roots, fortified at 3 levels ranging from 0.04 to 1.00 mg/kg, was 91.9% with a relative standard deviation of 4.3%. The limits of detection ranged from 1.16 × 10-3 mg/kg (dimethoate) to 4.64 × 10-3 mg/kg (dichlorvos). The proposed method showed acceptable accuracy and precision while minimizing environmental concerns, time, and labor.