Chlorpyrifos is a crystalline organophosphate insecticide. A simple and rapid reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method using UV detection was developed and validated for the analysis of chlorpyrifos in selected vegetable samples like cabbage, cauliflower and capsicum under isocratic conditions. A Kromosil C18 analytical column (150 mm × 4.6 mm I.D., 5 μm particle size) and a mobile phase constituting acetonitrile: 1 mM phosphate buffer (85:15 v/v, pH 4.5 adjusted with orthophosphoric acid) were used. The flow rate was 1 ml/min and the analyses performed using ultraviolet detector at a wavelength of 230 nm. The method response was linear over the concentration range of 2 to 12 μg/ml. The developed method was validated as per standard guidelines. Validation of the developed method demonstrated system suitability, sensitivity, accuracy, precision and selectivity of proposed method. This rapid and simple method was successfully applied in the estimation of chlorpyrifos in cabbage, cauliflower and capsicum. The results indicated that the chlorpyrifos residues were observed in all the samples and the concentration was found to be above the limit of maximum levels (0.05 mg/kg) recommended by the European Union Regulations 396/2005.
