ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a review of the most current chromatographic methods available for the analysis of carbamate insecticides. Gas chromatography (GC)/mass spectrometry has been used as a confirmation procedure for insecticidal carbamates, particularly supporting multiresidue pesticide screening methods. Sensitive analytical methods for the detection of insecticidal carbamate residues include the use of thin-layer chromatography, GC, high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Thin-layer chromatography is a useful qualitative and quantitative tool for analysis of carbamate insecticides, which may not be as amenable to GC analysis due to lack of thermostability. High-performance liquid chromatography methods for analysis of carbamate insecticides are often the preferred methods for these thermally labile compounds. Liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection has been widely accepted as the preferred technique for the identification and quantification of polar and thermally labile compounds such as insecticidal carbamates.
