One of the methods of chemical analysis of foodstuffs is to determine the amount of extract dissolved in petroleum ether. The basis of this method is based on extraction of the food sample to be analyzed with petroleum ether and drying and weighing the non-volatile residue by removing volatile portions in the foodstuff. This method is used especially for the determination of pesticides in fatty foods.

Pesticide, insecticide and herbicide are used when pest spraying or harmful organisms are mentioned in agricultural activities. Pesticide is the general expression of chemicals used to prevent harmful organisms from damaging plants, to minimize or control their damages. The pesticides may be a biological substance, a biological organism, such as a virus or bacteria, or a disinfectant. Insecticide is used against pests and insects. As for the herbicide, it is mostly used to control weeds. In other words, insecticides and herbicides are in fact a kind of pesticide. There are other types of pesticides such as fungicides, mollusc drugs, rodent drugs, mite drugs.

Pesticides are not harmful if used in situ, on time and within specified limits, and are also beneficial for the development of healthy and quality products. However, as a result of unconscious use, pesticides have bad consequences for human health and environment. Pesticides that are not used in accordance with their varieties and usage methods both destroy the nature and threaten human health. The pesticides used are mixed with soil and surface waters by rainwater and washing water channels and can spread easily even far away.

 

In the laboratories, petroleum ether extract analyzes are carried out in foodstuffs and the amount of extract dissolved in petroleum ether is determined. In these analysis studies, the standards prepared by institutions operating in our country and foreign countries and the methods of analysis accepted in the world are complied with.