Improvements in flame photometric detector design and operation. Determination of organophosphorus pesticide residues at low picogram levels

The molecular emission of heteroelements such as phosphorus and sulfur is the basis of the selective response of the flame photometric detector. The behavior of the FPD towards phosphorus compounds has been studied and design improvements sought with regard to burner configuration and temperature distribution. The possibility of differentiating between compounds containing phosphorus atoms and those containing both phosphorus and sulfur atoms has also been examined. Detection limits and response characteristics have been reported for organophosphorus pesticide residues in samples of natural origin