Minimum instrumentation and reagents required for the investigation of pesticide residues by gas-chromatography. (If items are mentioned by their make, this does not imply that these companies are the only suppliers.)
(1) Gas-chromatograph
TRACOR, 550 gas-chromatograph, double columns of glass, filled with Chromosorb-W, 80/100 mesh and 3% OV-1, equipped with one Flame Photometric Detector and one Ni-63 Electroncapture Detector. As electronic and other units: Electron-Capture Linearizer, Double Electrometer, Master Control, Temperature Programmer, Carrier Control, Detector Flows Control, and Double Detector Heater Control. Two MT-21 laboratory recorders, with 1 mV, FS, 1 sec response. A 4-port value, makes the connexion interchangeable between columns and detectors, 5×10 microlitre injection syringes. Price in 1974: U.S.$ 10 425 exclusive a stock of replaceable items, mainly recorder paper.
(2) Glassware etc.
At least six Sixhlet extractors, of small volume (Karl Kolb No. 253–401 or 253–520) with glass-fibre Thimbles (253–541); heater by electrical plates of small size, or waterbath; rotation vacuum evaporator, plus vacuum pump; 10 separatory funnels of 100 and 250 ml respectively; simple centrifuge for 10 ml graduated centrifuge tubes, preferably with cap, (at least 100); 0.1, 1, 10 ml graduated pipettes (20 each); 20 ml, 50 ml pipettes (10 each); 100 and 250 ml erlemeyers (10 each) with glass stopper of same size as flasks for vacuum evaporator; graduated beakers of 100, 250, 600 and 1 000 ml (10–25 each); large electrical stove, with 300°C range; muffle furnace; screw-top jars of 30 ml, 60 ml, 300 ml size; large stock of aluminium paper; glass tubes (for making small ‘clean-up’ columns) φ 8 mm exterior; tube-shaker; waterbath; Estimated total price: about U.S.$ 10 000, including transport.
(3) Reagents and gasses
Pestigrade organic solvents: 100 litre hexane (in 50 litre steel drums); 100 litre acitonitril; 50 litre acetone; normal reagent-grade benzene 20 litre, and chloroform 5 litre; ethyl-ether 20 litre. Costs about U.S.$ 7 000. Gasses: Hydrogen and air (compressed), pure nitrogen and highest grade Argon/Methane (95%/5%): about U.S.$ 2 000.
A total budget of U.S.$ 30 000 is a fair estimate for the start of a Pesticide analytical laboratory, supposing facilities are available such as stable-electricity supply, water, distilled water supply, semi-micro balans (0.01 mg sensitivity), 1 kg balans (10 mg sensitivity), airconditioning and regular laboratory facilities.
