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Development and validation of a simple and rapid thin-layer chromatography–UV densitometry method for the determination of triazophos in human whole blood for forensic toxicological applications

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Abstract

No published studies reported triazophos (TZP) analysis in human whole blood following fatal intoxication. In this study, a method for the determination of TZP in human whole blood using liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC)–ultraviolet (UV) densitometry is described. Chromatography was performed on silica gel 60F254 TLC plates using mobile phase n-hexane:acetone (8:2, v/v) and UV densitometric detection at 248 nm. Better extractions were achieved by using ethyl acetate solvent at pH 5 with a recovery of 92.17%. Calibration curve for TZP in blood was linear from 2 to 100 μg/mL (0.04 to 2 μg/spot) and the sensitivity of the method (LLOQ) was 2 μg/mL (0.04 μg/spot). The method showed excellent within-day precision (0.37 to 0.82%, RSD) and between-day precision (0.39 to 1.47%, RSD) for spiked blood samples at 2, 10, and 50 μg/mL. The measured concentrations of TZP in blood did not deviate more than 2.69% under different storage conditions. TZP concentrations in two fatal cases of poisoning were reported. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first validated TLC–UV densitometric method developed to determine TZP in human whole blood.

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Abbreviations

EC:

Emulsifiable concentrate

TLC:

Thin-layer chromatography

LLE:

Liquid–liquid extraction

OPPs:

Organophosphorus pesticides

RSD:

Relative standard deviation

TZP:

Triazophos

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Director, Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratories, Bengaluru, and Deputy Director, Regional Forensic Science Laboratory, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India, for their support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Gulbarga University, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, 585 106, India

    Praveen U. Sanganalmath & Kuruba Sreeramulu

  2. Toxicology Division, Regional Forensic Science Laboratory, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, 585 102, India

    Praveen U. Sanganalmath

  3. Toxicology Division, Regional Forensic Science Laboratory, Davanagere, Karnataka, 577 566, India

    Purigali M. Nagaraju

Authors
  1. Praveen U. Sanganalmath
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Correspondence to Kuruba Sreeramulu.

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Sanganalmath, P.U., Nagaraju, P.M. & Sreeramulu, K. Development and validation of a simple and rapid thin-layer chromatography–UV densitometry method for the determination of triazophos in human whole blood for forensic toxicological applications. JPC-J Planar Chromat 33, 255–262 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00764-020-00022-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00764-020-00022-3

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