Pesticide residue analysis by RPLC–GC in lycopene and other carotenoids obtained from tomatoes by supercritical fluid extraction

In the present work supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) is used to obtain carotenoids from tomatoes which were previously treated with pesticides. A procedure to determine pesticides in the extracts by RPLC–GC using the TOTAD interface is proposed. Tomatoes growing in an experimental plot were treated with different pesticides, and after picking, pesticide residues in the tomatoes were analysed and the tomatoes were used to obtain carotenoids by SFE. The carotenoid extracts were analysed using the above mentioned method. The data obtained indicated that trace amounts of the pesticides were extracted together with the carotenoids by SFE. The concentration of pesticide obtained in the second separation vessel was higher than that obtained in the first separation vessel. We conclude that only pesticide-free tomatoes should be used to extract carotenoids for applications as a nutritional supplement or in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.