Analytical evaluation of chlorfenapyr insecticide in poisoned food using a sustainable eugenol-coated rotating paper disc microextraction technique

Abstract

A novel eugenol-impregnated rotating paper disc (RPD) device was designed for the extraction of the chlorfenapyr insecticide from complex solid food matrices, including flatbread of maize and various flour types such as millet, wheat, maize, chickpea, refined, and rice. The device harnesses the sorptive capacity of cellulose and the functional groups of eugenol (hydroxyl and aromatic), enabling π–π stacking and hydrogen bonding with aromatic and carbonyl moieties of chlorfenapyr to enhance retention. The RPD device, made by enclosing a magnetic stir bar between two eugenol-treated cellulose discs (1.5"), was immersed in diluted food samples and stirred at 400 rpm for 30 min to extract insecticides. Analytes were then desorbed in 1.5 mL acetone and analyzed by GC-MS. The optimized yielded limits of quantification (LOQ) between 0.033 and 0.099 µg g⁻¹ . Intra-day and inter-day studies revealed relative standard deviations below 6 % and 10 %, respectively. Moreover, the proposed protocol attained a Click Analytical Chemistry Index (CACI) score of 85 and a Complex Modified Green Analytical Procedure Index (ComplexMoGAPI) score of 83, demonstrating its exceptional greenness and operational simplicity for forensic and toxicological applications. In addition, the suggested approach demonstrated efficacy in detecting chlorfenapyr in allegedly contaminated real forensic food samples.