Rapid analysis of fungicides in agricultural products and processed foods by applying an accelerated solvent extraction system

Residual fungicides, thiabendazole (TBZ), o-phenylphenol (OPP), bitertanol (BT), and diphenyl (DP), in foods were extracted with methanol or acetonitrile at 100 degrees C and 2,000 psi by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). Wet samples were mixed with Extrelut, a drying agent, to improve solvent penetration and sample handling. The procedure requires 70 min from sample preparation to the end of HPLC, including 20 min for extraction by ASE. The four fungicides were spiked at 1 ppm into oranges and bananas in a recovery test. Recoveries of the a fungicides were about 90 similar to 110%. The residues of the 4 fungicides in 114 processed foods were surveyed, and 8 of the foods showed detectable amounts of TBZ, ranging from 0.02 to 0.73 ppm.