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Ethyl formate and ethanol in air, eg in fumigant studies, were readily detected by gas chromatography (GC) (¯ame ionisation). Residues in wheat, barley and sultanas were analysed by GC, after extraction in polar solvents (eg methanol, aqueous propanol). Both natural levels and levels resulting from fumigation with ethyl formate were measured. Formic acid was extracted from commodities with polar solvents (eg methanol, water) and analysed by GC after esteri®cation. Solvent extracts of commodities were concentrated after addition of disodium hydrogen orthophosphate, and an aliquot added to acidi®ed alcohols (several combinations of acids and alcohols were tested) in a sealed container. Formic acid esters were determined by GC, from headspace sampling over the esteri®cation solvent. Esteri®cation was faster with strong acids than with boric acid. However, esteri®cation with boric acid/butanol gave the least interference of all tested methods. Product identity was con®rmed by GC/mass spectrometry. High natural levels of formic acid, and low natural levels of ethyl formate and ethanol, presented problems in identifying residues arising from fumigation. These natural levels are relevant to food regulations for ethyl formate, especially those based on`total formic acid, free and combined'. Polar columns (eg FFAP, carbowax) were useful for measurement of formic acid esters, which eluted before the alcohols used for esteri®cation or extraction, whereas elution followed the molecular mass on non-polar columns, such as GS-Q or DB-624.

Ethyl formate and ethanol in air, eg in fumigant studies, were readily detected by gas chromatography (GC) (¯ame ionisation). Residues in wheat, barley and sultanas were analysed by GC, after extraction in polar solvents (eg methanol, aqueous propanol). Both natural levels and levels resulting from fumigation with ethyl formate were measured. Formic acid was extracted from commodities with polar solvents (eg methanol, water) and analysed by GC after esteri®cation. Solvent extracts of commodities were concentrated after addition of disodium hydrogen orthophosphate, and an aliquot added to acidi®ed alcohols (several combinations of acids and alcohols were tested) in a sealed container. Formic acid esters were determined by GC, from headspace sampling over the esteri®cation solvent. Esteri®cation was faster with strong acids than with boric acid. However, esteri®cation with boric acid/butanol gave the least interference of all tested methods. Product identity was con®rmed by GC/mass spectrometry. High natural levels of formic acid, and low natural levels of ethyl formate and ethanol, presented problems in identifying residues arising from fumigation. These natural levels are relevant to food regulations for ethyl formate, especially those based on`total formic acid, free and combined'. Polar columns (eg FFAP, carbowax) were useful for measurement of formic acid esters, which eluted before the alcohols used for esteri®cation or extraction, whereas elution followed the molecular mass on non-polar columns, such as GS-Q or DB-624.