Dual Chromatographic Analysis of Pesticide Residues in Eggplants: A Green Approach to Food Safety Monitoring

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Abstract

Abstract The determination of pesticide residues is crucial for safeguarding human health and ensuring food safety, while also contributing to environmental sustainability. Chlorfenapyr (CLF), abamectin (ABM), and fenpyroximate (FNP) are widely employed in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cultivation for pest control. This study presents the first reported simultaneous analysis of these pesticides through two validated chromatographic methods: high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HP-TLC, Method A) and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC, Method B). Method A employs a mobile phase (MP) of methanol/chloroform/glacial acetic acid/triethylamine (7.00:2.50:0.50:0.10, v/v), with densitometric UV detection at 225 nm. The retention factors (R f ) for CLF, ABM, and FNP were 0.13, 0.34, and 0.85, respectively. Method B utilizes a MP of acetonitrile/5 mM ammonium acetate buffer (pH 4.0) (70:30, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.20 mL/min, with UV detection at 255 nm. The retention times for CLF, ABM, and FNP were 3.4, 6.1, and 8.4 minutes, respectively. Both methods were rigorously validated per ICH guidelines, demonstrating robustness for assaying the ternary pesticide mixture in pure forms, commercial formulations (with excipients), and spiked eggplant samples.