Modified gas-liquid chromatographic method for determination of compound 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate)

A method capable of determining 0.1 ppm 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) in 1 g animal tissue was developed. It involves extraction of 1080 from the sample with acetone-water, and then evaporation of the acetone followed by extraction of 1080 as fluoroacetic acid from water with ethyl acetate. Ethyl acetate is removed by volatilization from fluoroacetic acid which is retained as the triethanolammonium fluoroacetate salt. Fluoroacetic acid is subsequently derivatized with alpha-bromo-2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorotoluene and quantitated by gas-liquid chromatography with an electron capture detector. The method is rapid and requires no special apparatus or equipment and no more than 12 mL of any one solvent. Recoveries of 1080 from tissue samples fortified with 0.1-100 ppm averaged about 85%.