The simultaneous analysis of multi-residual pesticides was developed using a gas chromatography (GC) method. In this study, a simple and reliable methodology was improved to detect 154 kinds of pesticides in ginseng extract sample by using a liquid-liquid extraction procedure, open column chromagraphy and chromatographic analysis by GC electron capture detector (ECD) and GC nitrogen-phosphorus detector (NPD). The 154 kinds of pesticides were classified in 4 groups according to the chemical structure.
The extraction of pesticides was experimented with 70% acetone and dichloromethane/petroleum ether in order, and cleaned up via open column chromatography (3×30㎝) packed with florisil (30g, 130℃, 12hrs). The final extract was concentrated in a rotator evaporator at 40℃ until dryness. Then the residue was redissolved to 2㎖ with acetone, and analyzed by GC-ECD and GC-NPD. The applied concentration of pesticides was over 1~10㎍/㎖. The recovery tests were ranged from 70.7% to 115.2% with standard deviations between 0.3 and 5.7% of the standard spiked to the ginseng extract sample (Group Ⅰ~Ⅳ). The limit of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.001 to 0.099㎍/㎖ (Group Ⅰ~Ⅳ). The 9 kinds of pesticides were not detected.
The developed method was applied satisfactory to the determination of the 154 kinds of pesticides in the ginseng extract with good reproducibility and accuracy.