HPTLC Analysis of Octachlorodipropyl Ether in Insecticide Formulations

A simple, rapid, and sensitive high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method for analysis of octachlorodipropyl ether (OCDPE) in insecticide formulations has been established and validated. Known amounts of analytical grade OCDPE and its emulsifiable concentrate (EC) or wettable powder (WP) formulations were characterized by HPTLC on silica gel with toluene-acetic acidwater 20:20:1 (v/v) as mobile phase; detection was by spraying with silver nitrate-2 M alcoholic potassium hydroxide as chromogenic reagent and exposure to UV light. The plates were evaluated densit-ometrically at 399 nm. The results indicated that the calibration plot for OCDPE was logarithmic in the range 0.2-5.0 μg per band, and the correlation coefficient for the calibration equation in this range was 0.99. Recoveries from laboratory-prepared test EC and WP formulations using this method were 98.5-103.9% and 95.3-104.3%, respectively, and the respective RSDs were 3.39-4.89% and 2.92-5.33%. The accuracy and precision of the method were suitable for analysis of OCDPE in pesticide formulations.