Monitoring multi-class pesticide residues in fresh fruits and vegetables by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A new analytical method was developed using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry for the routine analysis of 31 multi-class pesticide residues and applied to approximately 50 fresh fruit and vegetable samples (green bean, cucumber, pepper, tomato, eggplant, watermelon, melon and zucchini). Extraction of the pesticides with ethyl acetate was carried out. The optimal ionisation conditions were selected for each pesticide in the same run. The procedure was validated and the values of some merit figures, such as recovery, precision, linear range, detection limit and quantification limit for each pesticide were calculated together with its calculated expanded uncertainty (U). The average recoveries in cucumber obtained for each pesticide ranged between 74 and 105% at two different fortification levels (n = 10 each) that ranged between 9 and 250 ng g(-1) (depending on the pesticide). The uncertainty associated to the analytical method was lower than 23% for all compounds tested. The calculated limits of detection and quantitation were typically <1 ng g(-1) that were much lower than the maximum residue levels established by European legislation.     

Identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and methoxylated phenols in wood smoke emitted during production of charcoal

Summary A method for detection, quantification, and confirmation of 30 multi-class pesticide residues in fresh vegetables by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) has been developed. The optimum ionization mode, electron impact (El-MS-MS) or chemical ionization (Cl-MS-MS), was used for different groups of pesticides in a single run. The residues were previously extracted from vegetables with dichloromethane. A 10μL aliquot of the extract can be injected in routine analysis without a clean up step when the glass liner is used with Carbofrit. Recovery efficiencies ranged 70–119% at the two different fortification levels studied and the relative standard deviation was <16.9% for all compounds. The limit of detection of each compound was 30 ng Kg⁻¹−6 μg Kg⁻¹. The proposed method was applied to the routine analysis of pesticides in vegetables grown in an important greenhouses area located in El Ejido (Almería, Spain).     

Validation and uncertainty assessment of rapid extraction and clean-up methods for the determination of 16 organochlorine pesticide residues in vegetables

Rapid and practical extraction methods were developed using dichloromethane and ethyl acetate for the routine determination of 16 organochlorine pesticide residues and applied to approximately 30 fresh vegetables (tomato, cucumber and pepper) by using GC-ECD. The procedures were validated. Measurement uncertainties were calculated by applying bottom-up approach. The average recoveries obtained for each pesticide ranged between 65 and 102% at three fortification levels. The uncertainties of the analytical methods were lower than 21 and 16% with and without recovery correction, respectively. The calculated limits of detection and quantification were typically less than 1 ng g⁻¹ that were much lower than the maximum residue levels.     

Validation of a gas chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry based method for the quantification of pesticides in food commodities

A new multiresidue method has been validated in cucumber matrix for the routine analysis of 130 multiclass pesticide residues by gas chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The pesticides were extracted with ethyl acetate. A first identification of the pesticides was based on a tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) screening method, which monitors a single transition for each target compound, in less than 12 min. After that, potentially non-negative samples were analyzed again by the MS/MS confirmation/quantification method, which monitors two or three MS/MS transitions for each compound, also in less than 12 min. Performance characteristics, such as trueness, precision, linear range, detection limit (LOD) and quantification limit (LOQ), for each pesticide were calculated. The average recoveries obtained ranged between 70 and 120% at three different fortification levels (25, 200 and 500 microg/kg) with precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD), values lower than 15%. The calculated LOD and LOQ were typically <3.2 and 9.6 microg/kg, respectively. Such limits were much lower than the maximum residue levels (MRLs) established by European legislation. The proposed methodology was applied to the determination of pesticides in real vegetable samples from Almería (Spain).     

气相色谱-电子轰击离子源质谱法分析卷烟和烟叶中29种农药的残留

开展了卷烟和烟叶中有机氯、有机磷和拟除虫菊酯3类29种农药残留的气相色谱-电子轰击离子源质谱(GC-EI/MS)的分析方法研究。优化与选择了卷烟和烟叶样品的前处理条件,样品经正己烷-丙酮(体积比为1∶1)混合提取剂超声提取、Florisil硅土和中性氧化铝双净化剂固相萃取柱净化、二氯甲烷-正己烷(体积比为95∶5)混合洗脱剂洗脱和浓缩后,以磷酸三苯酯(TPP)为内标物,采用GC-EI/MS的选择离子监测方式(SIM)进行定性和定量分析。当样品的加标水平为20,50,100 μg/kg时,加标回收率为70%～110%,相对标准偏差在2%～8%之间;除了甲氰菊酯、氯菊酯和溴氰菊酯的方法检出限(LOD)分别为1.85,1.74与2.54 μg/kg外,其余的26种农药的LOD均小于0.8 μg/kg;线性范围为5.0～500.0 μg/kg,相关系数都大于等于0.9994。此分析方法已成功地应用于卷烟和烟叶样品中3类29种痕量农药残留的分析     

Combination of solid-phase extraction-hollow fiber for ultra-preconcentration of some triazole pesticides followed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection

In this study, an extraction and preconcentration technique using solid-phase extraction (SPE) along with hollow fiber (HF) has been developed as an ultra-preconcentration technique for some triazole pesticides in aqueous samples. Triazole pesticides were employed as model compounds to assess the method and were monitored by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Initially, an aqueous solution of target analytes was passed through an RP-8 SPE cartridge and then the adsorbed analytes were eluted with μL amounts of toluene. The collected elute was slowly introduced into an HF that had one end blocked. This allowed precipitation inside the lumen and pores of the HF. Finally, the obtained HF was mounted on a home-made solid-phase microextraction syringe and entered into the GC injection port for thermal desorption-GC analysis. The effect of various experimental parameters including injection port temperature, desorption time, state of HF, washing solvent, elution solvent and its volume, sample volume, etc. were investigated for finding the optimum conditions. The calibration graphs were linear in the ranges of 2-1000 ng/mL (penconazole and hexaconazole), 5-1000 ng/mL (tebuconazole), 15-1000 ng/mL (triticonazole) and the detection limits (LODs) ranged from 0.6 to 4.5 ng/mL. The enhancement factors were in the range of 870-950. The relative standard deviations (RSD%) for five repeated experiments (C=250 ng/mL of each pesticide) varied from 4.5 to 8.7%. The relative recoveries obtained for analytes in grape juice samples, spiked with different levels of each pesticide, were in the range of 87-119%.     

微波辅助萃取-气相色谱-负化学电离/电子轰击电离-飞行时间质谱法测定烟草中农药残留

建立了微波辅助萃取结合气相色谱-飞行时间质谱(GC-TOF MS)技术在负化学电离(NCI)源和电子轰击电离(EI)源两种模式下测定烟草中24种农药残留的分析方法。烟叶样品于100℃下用二氯甲烷-正己烷(3:1, v/v)混合溶剂微波萃取10 min,萃取液经弗罗里硅土固相萃取柱净化后进行检测分析。在NCI源和EI源质谱模式下,24种农药的线性关系均良好(r²>0.99),相对标准偏差分别小于8.6%和9.1%,定量限分别为0.3~6.9 μg/kg和10.2~44.9 μg/kg,加标回收率分别为75.2%~94.8%和75.0%~95.1%。比较两种离子源模式下的色谱图和质谱图,NCI源模式较EI源模式的选择性好、灵敏度高、基质干扰小、图谱简单易于解析,检出限低一个数量级以上,在分析低含量、复杂基质的样品时更具优势。     

分散固相萃取-气相色谱-三重四极杆质谱分析蔬菜中112种农药残留

评价了分析过程中不同条件下使用分散固相萃取(D-SPE)材料净化对农残分析定量结果可靠性的影响,表明通过条件优化,可明显减小定量误差,并取得满意的回收率。建立了蔬菜中112种农药的多反应监测-气相色谱-串联质谱(GC-MS/MS)检测方法。在pH 5～7范围内,样品经乙腈-甲苯(8:1, v/v)匀浆提取,每5 mL提取液加入0.8 g无水硫酸镁、0.05 g石墨化炭黑(GCB)、0.1 g乙二胺-N-丙基甲硅烷(PSA)、0.05 g C18粉末,分散固相萃取法净化,采用气相色谱-三重串联四极杆质谱(GC-QQQ-MS/MS)在多反应监测模式(MRM)下进行测定,内标法定量。分别对韭菜、黄瓜、紫甘蓝进行3个水平的加标回收试验(20、50、200 μg/kg),其回收率范围为53.1%～138.7%,其中86种农药的3个加标水平的回收率范围均为65.0%～120.0%,方法的相对标准偏差(RSD)小于12%,方法的定量限(LOQ)范围为1.6～13.4 μg/kg。对从市场采集的蔬菜样品进行了测定,检出了三唑磷、甲氰菊酯等农药残留。该方法样品前处理简单快速,灵敏度、准确度和精密度均符合农药多残留检测技术的要求,适用于蔬菜中112种农药残留的快速筛查测定。     

Application of hollow fiber supported liquid membrane extraction to the simultaneous determination of pesticide residues in vegetables by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

A new analytical procedure using a hollow fiber supported liquid membrane (HFSLM) has been developed for the simultaneous determination of pesticide residues in vegetables by liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with electrospray mass spectrometry (MS). The extraction technique requires minimal sample preparation and solvent consumption. Optimum extraction conditions have been evaluated with respect to sample pH, ionic strength, liquid membrane composition, extraction time, stirring rate and acceptor composition. The extraction method has been validated for matrices such as cucumber, tomato and pepper, indicating that cucumber can be selected as representative matrix for routine analysis of these food commodities. Linear ranges of pesticides in vegetable samples were 10 to 200 microg/kg, and the repeatability of the method was less than 20% for the lowest calibration point. The limits of detection ranged from 0.06 to 2.7 microg/kg and the limits of quantification from 0.2 to 9.0 microg/kg, which were low enough to determine the pesticide residues at concentrations below or equal to the maximum residue levels (MRLs) specified by European Union. The method was finally applied to the determination of more than 20 pesticides in market vegetable samples and the concentrations found in these samples were always lower than the MRLs. This new approach can be considered as a powerful alternative to the traditional extraction techniques.     

Simple and Rapid Determination of Benzoylphenylurea Pesticides in River Water and Vegetables by LC–ESI-MS

Liquid chromatography with electrospray mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS) instrumentation equipped with a single quadrupole mass filter has been used to determine several benzoylphenylurea insecticides (diflubenzuron, triflumuron, hexaflumuron, lufenuron and flufenoxuron). Chromatographic and MS parameters were optimised to obtain the best sensitivity and selectivity for all pesticides. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) using C₁₈ cartridges was applied for preconcentration of pesticide trace levels in river water samples. Recoveries of benzoylphenylurea pesticides from spiked river water (0.01 and 0.025 μg L⁻¹) were between 73 and 110% and detection limits were between 3.5 and 7.5 ng L⁻¹. The applicability of the method to the determination of benzoylphenylurea insecticides in spiked cucumber, green beans, tomatoes and aubergines was evaluated. Samples were extracted into dichloromethane without any clean-up step. The limits of detection ranged from 1.0 to 3.2 ng mL⁻¹ (0.68 and 2.13 μg kg⁻¹ in the vegetable samples). Mean recoveries ranged from 79 to 114% at spiking levels of 0.01 and 0.03 mg kg⁻¹. The method was applied to determine traces of benzoylphenylureas in both river water and vegetable samples with precision values lower than 10%. Interferences due to the matrix effect were overcome using matrix-matched standards.     

Sample pretreatment method for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in bird livers using ultrasonic extraction followed by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A simple and reliable sample methodology based on simultaneous ultrasonic extraction, sulfuric acid clean-up and headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME)-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has been developed as an advantageous analytical tool for the determination of seven polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in bird livers at low levels. The influence of several parameters on the efficiency of the proposed method was systematically investigated. The clean-up efficiency of sulfuric acid treatment was tested and compared with those of column chromatography (Flosiril, silica gel and alumina) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) (Supelclean ENVI-Carb cartridge) procedures. The use of sulfuric acid in the clean-up step prior to headspace solid-phase microextraction analysis allows the removal of interfering matrix compounds present in the liver extracts that would otherwise cause severe ionization suppression of the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during the ionization process. The optimized method had good linearity (R2>0.99) over the range studied (5-500 ng/g wet weight) and showed satisfactory level of precision, with RSD values lower than 10.6%. The obtained relative recoveries ranged between 63 and 94%. The limits of detection (0.06-0.63 ng/g wet weight) were low enough to check for harmful levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in biological samples, and were well below most of the restrictive limits established by European Union regulations. The method was found to be reliable under the operational conditions proposed and was applied successfully to the analysis of individual polychlorinated biphenyls in liver tissues. The results obtained from five bird species from Greece revealed the presence of the target compounds in all samples analyzed, at levels ranging between 0.54 and 39.45 ng/g wet weight.     

Rapid determination of fumonisins in corn-based products by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A simple, fast, and robust method was developed for the determination of fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2 (FB2), and fumonisin B3 (FB3) in corn-based human food and animal feed (cornmeal). The method involves a single extraction step followed by centrifugation and filtration before analysis by ultra-performance liquid chromatographylelectrospray ionization (UPLC/ESI)-MS/MS. The LC/MS/MS method developed here represents the fastest and simplest procedure (<30 min) among both conventional HPLC methods and other LC/MS methods using SPE cleanup. The potential for high throughput analysis makes the method particularly beneficial for regulatory agencies and analytical laboratories with a high sample volume. A single-laboratory validation was conducted by testing three different spiking levels (200, 500, and 1000 ng/g for FB1 and FB2; 100, 250, and 500 ng/g for FB3) for accuracy and precision. Recoveries of FB1 ranged from 93 to 98% with RSD values of 3-8%. Recoveries of FB2 ranged from 104 to 108%, with RSD values of 2-6%. Recoveries of FB3 ranged from 94 to 108%, with RSD values of 2-5%.     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱法检测瓜果中的4种植物生长调节剂的残留量

建立了用于测定瓜果中多效唑、氯吡脲、异戊烯腺嘌呤和6-苄氨基嘌呤等4种植物生长调节剂残留量的高效液相色谱-串联质谱分析方法。样品用乙腈提取,经阳离子交换固相萃取柱净化后,用Agilent XDB-C₁₈色谱柱分离,以5 mmol/L乙酸铵溶液和含0.1%(体积分数)甲酸的乙腈溶液为流动相进行梯度洗脱。质谱采用电喷雾正离子(ESI⁺)模式电离,多反应监测(MRM)模式检测,基质匹配标准溶液外标法定量。4种植物生长调节剂在各自的范围内线性很好,相关系数均大于0.999。选取了黄瓜和苹果作为代表性基质进行添加回收试验,定量限(信噪比大于10)在0.04~1.35 μg/kg之间,检出限(信噪比大于3)在0.01~0.41 μg/kg之间,在3个添加水平下回收率范围为81.0%~93.3%,相对标准偏差(RSDs)为3.5%~9.5%。该方法的灵敏度、准确度和精密度均符合农药残留测定的技术要求,适用于瓜果中这4种植物生长调节剂残留量的检测。     

基于QuEChERS净化/气相色谱法测定蔬菜及水果中16种有机氯农药残留

该文建立了蔬菜及水果中16种有机氯农药残留的QuEChERS净化/气相色谱快速检测方法。样品经1%冰乙酸乙腈处理,QuEChERS净化,气相色谱分离后,以色谱峰保留时间定性,外标法定量。结果表明:16种有机氯农药在2.0~100μg/L质量浓度范围内的线性关系良好,相关系数均大于0.99,检出限为0.16~2.90μg/L,在4种基质(油菜、黄瓜、橙子、苹果)中的加标回收率为70.1%~119%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为0.23%~5.2%。与其它前处理方法相比,该方法简便、快速、准确、高效,可用于蔬菜及水果样品中有机氯残留的高通量快速筛查。     

Performance of gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry in the analysis of pyrethroid insecticides in environmental and food samples

The performance of gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) was tested for the simultaneous determination of twelve pyrethroid insecticides. First, a comparison of two different ionization modes, electron ionization (EI) and negative chemical ionization (NCI), was carried out using MS and MS/MS. NCI-MS/MS provided the best results in terms of selectivity and sensitivity giving very low detection limits of 0.11 to 450 fg injected. The reliability of the method was confirmed through the evaluation of quality parameters such as accuracy (70-100%), and repeatability and reproducibility, with coefficients of variation below 15% and 10%, respectively. The applicability of the GC/MS/MS method to real samples and influence of matrix effects were evaluated through the analysis of spiked water, sediment and milk at 0.25 ng L(-1) , 5 ng g(-1) dry weight (dw) and 25 ng g(-1) (dw), respectively, of each pyrethroid insecticide considered. Using GC/NCI-MS/MS, matrix spectral interferences were minimized providing method limits of detection (MLODs) of 0.05-2.59 ng L(-1) , 0.10-87.7 pg g(-1) dw, 2.29-1071 pg g(-1) lipid weight (lw) for water, sediment and milk, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, the MLOD values found in our study were better than those reported in previous studies; in particular for sediment and food samples, they were one order of magnitude lower.     

Quantitative analysis of imazamox herbicide in environmental water samples by capillary electrophoresis electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) with an electrospray ionization interface was applied for the quantitative analysis of imazamox pesticide in well water, potable water, and pond water. The detector response for imazamox was determined to be linear over the concentration range of 50-1 ng/ml. The limits of quantitation and detection of the method were determined to be 200 and 20 ng/l for imazamox compound in each type of water sample, respectively. The total sample preparation and CE-MS analysis time was under 2 h.     

QuEChERS-液相色谱-串联质谱法测定植物性食品中30种氨基甲酸酯类农药残留

基于欧洲标准化委员会标准方法(EN 15662)对食品基质的分类,选择6种代表性植物性食品作为基质,系统优化了QuEChERS样品前处理方法;在此基础上,建立了30种氨基甲酸酯类农药的液相色谱-串联质谱分析方法。实验结果表明,除涕灭威砜的线性范围为2~100 μg/kg,其他29种氨基甲酸酯类农药的线性范围均为1~100 μg/kg;6种样品基质在3个添加水平(5、20、100 μg/kg)下的回收率为56.13%~127.6%,相对标准偏差为0.47%~16%;以信噪比(S/N)≥10计,30种农药的定量限(LOQ)为0.041~1.9 μg/kg。本文方法灵敏、有效,适用于植物性食品基质中30种氨基甲酸酯类农药残留的测定。     

Multiresidue method for the analysis of more than 140 pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables by gas chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

A new multiresidue method has been developed and validated for the determination of more than 140 pesticide residues in cucumber and orange by gas chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-QqQ-MS/MS) in a single run of 25.50 min. The triple quadrupole (QqQ) analyzer simultaneously operated in the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) and selected ion monitoring (SIM) modes, acquiring two or three transitions per compound. Samples were extracted by the application of a single-phase extraction of 10 g of sample with acetonitrile containing 1% of acetic acid, followed by a liquid-liquid partition formed by the addition of 4 g of MgSO(4) and 1 g of NaOAc. A dispersive solid-phase extraction (D-SPE) with primary secondary amine (PSA) was applied to clean up the extracts. A final concentration step was included in order to increase sensitivity in the instrumental analysis. The method was properly validated in each matrix in a wide dynamic range (10-400 microg kg(-1)): this work relies on a new quantification strategy by the use of two calibration curves to increase the dynamic range, which permitted reduction of sample dilutions and increase in sample throughput. Recovery was studied at three concentration levels (11.5, 50.0, and 150.0 microg kg(-1)), yielding values in the range 70-110% with precision values, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD), lower than 20 and 25% for the intraday and interday precision, respectively. Limits of quantification (LOQs) were established at 10 microg kg(-1), the lowest maximum residue level (MRL) value set by the European Union in vegetables. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of pesticide residues in real samples from the southeastern Spain. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of Gas Chromatography‐Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC‐MS‐MS) with Pulsed Splitless Injection for the Determination of Multiclass Pesticides in Vegetables

Abstract

GC‐MS‐MS was used to analyze vegetables for 14 pesticide residues. In the same run, the optimal ionization mode (electron ionization or chemical ionization) for each pesticide was selected. The method includes a simple extraction procedure with acetone and dichloromethane. A solid‐phase extraction tube was used for cleanup. The 1 µL of the final solution was injected into the instrument by pulsed splitless injection mode that can improve the sensitivity. The average recoveries were ranged from 78% to 102%. The relative standard deviation was lower than 18.4%. The calculated limits of detection were equal or lower than 0.02 mg/kg.     

Simultaneous multidetermination of residues of pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in olive and olive-pomace oils by gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A multiresidue method for determining major pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in olive oils in a single injection by use of gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) is proposed. Samples are previously extracted with an acetonitrile/n-hexane mixture and cleaned up by gel permeation chromatography. Electron ionization and chemical ionization allow pesticides and PAHs to be determined in a single analysis. The precision obtained was quite satisfactory (relative standard deviations ranged from 3 to 7.8%), and so were recoveries (84-110%). The linear relation was observed from 1 to 500 microg/kg for pesticides and 0.3 to 200 microg/kg for PAHs; also, the determination coefficient, R(2), was better than 0.995 in all instances. The proposed method was applied to the routine analysis of PAH and pesticide residues in virgin and refined olive oil and olive-pomace oil samples.