Analysis of Pesticide Gas Cartridges

Authors

John J. Johnston, APHIS/WS/National Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Department of AgricultureFollow
Carol A. Furcolow, APHIS/WS/National Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Doreen G. Griffin, APHIS/WS/National Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Randal S. Stahl, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife ServicesFollow
John D. Eisemann, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research CenterFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

August 2001

Comments

Published in J. Agric. Food Chem., Vol. 49, No. 8, 2001.

Abstract

Charcoal and sodium nitrate, the active ingredients in pesticide gas cartridges, are quantified via carbon analysis and ion chromatography, respectively. Linearity was excellent (R² > 0.995) over a range consisting of 50-150% of the target concentration for both ingredients. The coefficient of variation for the replicate analyses of gas cartridges over multiple days was <4% for both analytes. Using the results from the analysis of two batches of gas cartridges, theoretical populations were modeled and used to determine practical sampling strategies to support a quality control program for a gas cartridge manufacturing operation. This modeling indicates that the analysis of three cartridges from each of five different lots would produce mean values for both active ingredients that are within 5% of the true mean >99% of the time.