Experiments are described which have clarified the chemistry of the D.N.P.* method' for iyrethrum and allethrin assay. The fate during the course of analysis of a number of the non-insecticidal contaminants has been determined and the scope and limitations of the method are reviewed in the light of the new findings.
IntroductionIn an earlier communication1 the writer put forward a method for the assay of 'pyrethrin' and allethrin concentrates, based upon reaction with 2 : 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (D.N.P.). The procedure finally adopted contained empirical features ; in particular, the calculation of ' pyrethrins ' values involved important assumptions. Nevertheless, the results of tests on a wide range (though limited number) of standards showed promise.Recently a variant of the new method, involving a different practical procedure, has been proposed2 for allethrin assay and further work in this Laboratory has clarified most of the outstanding points. In the following notes, the details of the three main phases of the assaythe formation, isolation, and estimation of the z : 4-dinitrophenylhydrazones-will be reviewed in the light of this additional information.