Use of Cupric Ferrocyanide Reagent for the Thin-Layer Chromatographic Detection of Organophosphate Insecticide Profenophos

Profenophos is a member of organophosphate insecticide compounds. It is an important insecticide and has a diversifi ed role in agriculture. During the last few years, the Forensic Science Laboratories of Maharashtra, India, detected a large number of human poisoning cases with profenophos. A large number of biological samples were received for toxicological chemical analysis. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was the preferred method of choice. By observing the results of the toxicological analyses, the conclusion that profenophos plays a key role can be drawn. Cupric ferrocyanide reagent was found to be a selective spray reagent for profenophos in a routine analysis by TLC. Profenophos reacts with cupric ferrocyanide reagent which gives an intense-pink-colored compound. The other organochlorine insecticides, organ phosphorus insecticides, pyrethroids insecticide as well as visceral constituents (amino acids, peptides, proteins, fats, etc.) do not interfere with the cupric ferrocyanide reagent.