High performance liquid chromatography of thiabendazole residues in banana citrus fruits

A simple high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for determining thiabendazole in fruits has been developed. Thiadazole is extracted with methanol and the extract is washed with n-hexane saturated with methanol. The determination is carried out by HPLC with fluorometric detection. LiChrosorb RP-8 is used as stationary phase and methanol-0.28% ammonia water (60+60) as mobile phase; alpha-methylindole is added as an internal standard. The limit of detection of this method is 0.1 microgram thiabendazole/g. Recoveries are more than 92%.