Pulsed Splitless Injection and the Extent of Matrix Effects in the Analysis of Pesticides

The applicability of pulsed splitless injection to the gas chromatographic analysis of pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables has been evaluated. 22 pesticides belonging to different chemical classes, including those known to be liable to matrix induced response enhancement, were selected for the study. The parameters of pressure pulse have been tested for optimum performance of injection. Application of the pressure pulse was found to decrease matrix effects during analyses of real samples. Further decline of matrix effects was obtained using higher sample injection volumes. The installation of a deactivated retention gap was necessary to obtain good peak shapes with injection volumes exceeding 1 μL of sample. Up to 4 μL was then injected without peak distortion and consequent loss of resolution. Using 4 μL pulsed splitless injection, matrix effects were almost completely eliminated even at very low concentration levels of analytes. The highest matrix effects observed for tested compounds at the lowest concentration level tested were in the range of 110–122%.