Simple methods for the analysis of carbendazim, benomyl and thiophanate methyl in fruits and vegetables and of 2,4-D in
citrus fruits are presented. Sample preparation involves supercritical fluid extraction with carbon dioxide and further analysis
is performed without any additional clean-up by GC–MS after derivatisation or directly by HPLC–diode array detection.
The SFE methods presented are clearly faster and more cost effective than traditional solvent based approaches. The
recoveries, detection limits and repeatabilities achieved, meet the needs of tolerance level monitoring of these compounds in
fruits and vegetables.