GC/FTIR Applications in Pesticide Chemistry

Gas chromatography Fourier transform infrared (GC/FTIR) spectroscopy is found to be an invaluable tool for monitoring and directing the biodegradation of pesticides in bait formulations. Previously, identification of the various degradation products required relatively large amounts of sample and lengthy separations. Using GC/FTIR, amounts of sample utilized are an order of magnitude lower and the time necessary for identification is reduced appreciably. In some cases, where complete separation is not possible by GC, it is possible to use the GC/FTIR data in such a way that infrared spectra for each component are generated by spectral subtraction. This capability is particularly useful in elucidating stereochemical differences between laboratory and actual field degradation of pesticides.