Derivatization reactions of carbamate pesticides in supercritical carbon dioxide

Supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) has been used to dissolve derivatizing agents (e.g. heptafluorobutyric anhydride, HFBA, and pyridine), which also act as a modifier in the fluid phase, for simultaneous extraction and derivatization of carbamates from the sample matrix. The derivatized carbamate pesticides (carbaryl, 3-hydroxycarbofuran, carbofuran, aldicarb, methiocarb) were then analyzed by GC-ECD or GC-MS with excellent sensitivity. Extraction and conversion of the carbamates was complete, as indicated by HPLC with post-column hydrolysis and o-phthalaldehyde derivatization then fluorescence detection. GC-MS (ion trap) was also used to confirm the formation of the carbamate derivatives. Compared with the same HFBA reaction in an organic solvent the derivatization reaction time was considerably shorter in SC-CO2. The described approach, combining both extraction and derivatization, simplifies the analysis of carbamate pesticides and eliminates the use of organic solvents associated with the derivatization step.