Comparison of QuEChERS sample preparation methods for the analysis of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables

This article describes the comparison of different versions of an easy, rapid and low-cost sample preparation approach for the determination of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables by concurrent use of gas and liquid chromatography (GC and LC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) for detection. The sample preparation approach is known as QuEChERS, which stands for “quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe”. The three compared versions were based on the original unbuffered method, which was first published in 2003, and two interlaboratory validated versions: AOAC Official Method 2007.01, which uses acetate buffering, and European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Standard Method EN 15662, which calls for citrate buffering. LC–MS/MS and GC–MS analyses using each method were tested from 50 to 1000 ng/g in apple–blueberry sauce, peas and limes spiked with 32 representative pesticides. As expected, the results were excellent (overall average of 98% recoveries with 10% RSD) using all 3 versions, except the unbuffered method gave somewhat lower recoveries for the few pH-dependent pesticides. The different methods worked equally well for all matrices tested with equivalent amounts of matrix co-extractives measured, matrix effects on quantification and chemical noise from matrix in the chromatographic backgrounds. The acetate-buffered version gave higher and more consistent recoveries for pymetrozine than the other versions in all 3 matrices and for thiabendazole in limes. None of the versions consistently worked well for chlorothalonil, folpet or tolylfluanid in peas, but the acetate-buffered method gave better results for screening of those pesticides. Also, due to the recent shortage in acetonitrile (MeCN), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) was evaluated as a substitute solvent in the acetate-buffered QuEChERS version, but it generally led to less clean extracts and lower recoveries of pymetrozine, thiabendazole, acephate, methamidophos, omethoate and dimethoate. In summary, the acetate-buffered version of QuEChERS using MeCN exhibited advantages compared to the other tested methods in the study.     

Analytical methods for estimation of organophosphorus pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables: A review

Use of pesticides has turned out to be an obligatory input to agriculture and public health. Versatile use of pesticides had resulted in contamination of all basic necessities of life, i.e. air, water and food. Among various pesticides, organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs), derivative of phosphoric acid, are the most extensively used insecticides or acaricides in many crops. Due to low persistency and high killing efficiency of OPPs, many agriculturalists regularly use this group of pesticides for various vegetables and fruits crops. The continuous use of pesticides has caused the deleterious effects to ecosystem. In response to this, a number of methods have been developed by several regulatory agencies and private laboratories and are applied routinely for the quantification and monitoring of multi pesticide residues in vegetables and crops. The present review pertains to various extraction and quantification procedures used world wide to analyze OPPs residues in various vegetables and fruits.     

Analytical methods applied to the determination of pesticide residues in foods of animal origin. A review of the past two decades

Pesticides are widely used in agriculture and can be transferred to animals in a number of ways. Consequently, reliable analytical methods are required to determine pesticide residues in foods of animal origin. The present review covers published methods and research articles (1990-2010) in which pesticide residues have been extracted from meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, fish and seafood, and eggs, then cleaned up, and isolated by chromatographic techniques to be identified and quantified by various detection methods. Recovery rates, quantification limits, the matrix effect and related parameters have all been considered. Lastly, future developments in this field are outlined.     

Development of an ultrasound‐assisted emulsification microextraction method for the determination of chlorpyrifos and organochlorine pesticide residues in honey samples using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry

A simple, rapid, and efficient ultrasound‐assisted emulsification microextraction method followed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring mode was developed for the determination of organochlorine pesticides in honey samples. The type and volume of organic extraction solvent, pH, effect of added salt content, and centrifuging time and speed were investigated. Under the optimum extraction conditions, 30 μL of 1, 2‐dibromoethane (extraction solvent) was immersed into an ultrasonic bath for 1 min at 40°C. The limits of detection and quantification for all target pesticides were 0.003–0.06 and 0.01–0.2 ng/g_, respectively. The extraction recovery was 91–100% and the enrichment factors were 168–192. The relative standard deviation for the method was <6% for intraday (n = 6) and <8% for interday precision (n = 4). The proposed method was successfully applied for the analysis of organochlorine pesticides in honey samples.     

顶空固相微萃取-气相色谱质谱法测定蜂蜜中的苯酚残留量

建立了一种顶空固相微萃取-气相色谱质谱法(SPME-GC/MS)测定蜂蜜中苯酚的分析方法。对SPME纤维头、萃取温度、萃取时间及解吸时间等萃取条件进行了优化。结果表明:用85μm的聚丙烯酸酯(PA)萃取涂层对蜂蜜中的苯酚萃取效果很好,苯酚在0.5~1000 ng/g的浓度范围内,方法的检出限为0.1ng/g,相对标准偏差(n=9)为3.3%,平均回收率为85.79%~99.35%。     

Advantages of LC–MS–MS compared to LC–MS for the determination of nitrofuran residues in honey

In the framework of developing analyses for exogenous contaminants in food matrices such as honey, we have compared data obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC–MS) to those provided by high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS). Initial results obtained with LC–MS showed that the technique lacked selectivity, which is why the method was validated by LC–MS–MS. This method involves a solid-phase extraction (SPE) of nitrofuran metabolites and nitrofuran parent drugs, a derivatization by 2-nitrobenzaldehyde for 17 h, and finally a clean-up by SPE. The data obtained show that the limits of detection varied between 0.2 and 0.6 μg kg⁻¹ for the metabolites and between 1 and 2 μg kg⁻¹ for nitrofuran parent drugs. The method was applied to different flower honeys. The results showed that nitrofurans (used as antibiotics) are consistently present in this matrix, the predominant compound being furazolidone. Figure Working bees     

Unauthorised antibiotic treatments in beekeeping: Development and validation of a method to quantify and confirm tylosin residues in honey using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric detection

A liquid chromatographic–tandem mass spectrometric (HPLC-MS/MS) method is proposed for the identification and quantification of tylosin in honey. Sample treatment involves an extraction in a Tris buffer at pH 10.5, followed by a solid-phase clean up step on an Oasis HLB column. Roxithromycin was used as the internal standard. Chromatographic separation of tylosin and roxithromycin was performed on an XTerra MS C₁₈ column (100 mm × 2.1 mm i.d., 5 μm) using a gradient of aqueous 0.01 M ammonium acetate pH 3.5 and acetonitrile as the mobile phase, at a flow rate of 0.25 ml min⁻¹. The method was validated according to the guidelines laid down by the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Tylosin residues were confirmed by MS/MS experiments considering the appropriate identification points. All validation parameters such as Cc (lower than 3 ng g⁻¹), Ccβ (lower than 5 ng g⁻¹), recovery and precision were assessed on the basis of the “critical ion” (less intense ion permitting unambiguous identification of the analyte).     

气相色谱-质谱法分析蜂蜜中多种有机氯农药残留

建立了气相色谱-电子轰击离子化-质谱法（GC-EI-MS）同时分析蜂蜜试样中12种有机氯农药残留的分析方法.蜂蜜试样用V（正己烷）：V（乙酸乙酯）=5：1混合提取剂超声提取和Florisil硅藻土层析柱净化后,以PCB 103为内标物,采用GC-EI-MS的选择离子监测方式（SIM）分析,同时探讨了一些有机氯农药EI-MS特征离子的结构与断裂机理.当空白试样的加标浓度为10、50、200μg/kg时,加标回收率为80%～112%,相对标准偏差为0.4%～9.8%,方法检出限为0.2～4.0μg/kg,其中8种农药的MDL＜1.0μg/kg,线性范围为10～500μg/kg,相关系数皆大于0.996,此方法已用于蜂蜜试样中多种痕量有机氯农药残留的分析.     

生物样品中亚硝酸根和硝酸根分析研究进展EI北大核心CSCD

亚硝酸根和硝酸根以盐的形式广泛存在于生活中,其测定一直是各领域的研究热点。在法医毒物分析领域,亚硝酸盐中毒案件频发,少量亚硝酸盐即可引起中毒或死亡,案件现场体内外检材中其含量测定可为案件提供证据。亚硝酸盐不稳定易氧化,小体积生物样品中亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐的测定仍是一个挑战。本文对生物样品中亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐的测定方法进行了综述,方法分为光谱法和色谱法两大类,重点综述了色谱法中准确度较高的气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)技术,以便为2种物质的检测和相关科学研究提供参考。     

Identification and quantification of 34 drugs and toxic compounds in blood,urine, and gastric content using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the simultaneous screening of 34 drugs and poisons in forensic cases. Blood (0.5 mL, diluted 1:1 with water) or 1.0 mL of urine was purified by solid‐phase extraction. Gastric contents (diluted 1:1 with water) were treated with acetonitrile, centrifuged, and supernatant injected. Detection was achieved using a Waters Alliance 2695/Quattro Premier XE liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry system equipped with electrospray ionization, operated in the multiple reaction monitoring modes. The method was validated for accuracy, precision, linearity, and recovery. The absolute recovery of drugs and toxic compounds in blood was greater than 51% with the limit of detection in the range of 0.02–20 ng/mL. The absolute recovery of drugs and toxic compounds in urine was greater than 61% with limit of detection in the range of 0.01–10 ng/mL. The matrix effect of drugs and toxic compounds in urine was 65–117% and 67–121% in blood. The limit of detection of drugs and toxic compounds in gastric content samples were in the range of 0.05–20 ng/mL. This method was applied to the routine analysis of drugs and toxic compounds in postmortem blood, urine, and gastric content samples. The method was applied to actual forensic cases with examples given.     

气相色谱/质谱测定水产品中氯霉素残留量

样品经均质后,用乙酸乙酯提取,正己烷脱脂,C18小柱净化,衍生后用GC ECD,NCI GC MS,NCI GC MSMS多种方法定性及定量测定,外标法定量。在0.1μg/kg水平,回收率为72%～110%,平行测定9次后相对标准偏差为16 5%。质量浓度在0～10μg/L范围内呈良好线性关系,相关系数r=0.9997。     

A SPME-GC-MS approach for antivarroa and pesticide residues analysis in honey

Summary Results are presented that were obtained independently by two laboratories employing solid-phase micro extraction (SPME) for the analysis of pesticide residues in honey. The compounds Amitraz, Coumaphos, Cymiazole, Bromopropylate and Fluvalinate, used for chemitherapic treatment of beehives and other widely used agricultural insecticides, were extracted using a polydimethylsiloxane fiber of 100 μm thickness. The precision, accuracy, intervals of linearity and detection limits of the methodare discussed. Considering the rapidity and simplicity of this technique and, on the other hand, the difficulties arising from its application to a very complex matrix, SPME can certainly be considered a useful tool for the rapid screening of residues in honey.     

Urine sample preparation for proteomic analysis

Sample preparation for both environmental and more importantly biological matrices is a bottleneck of all kinds of analytical processes. In the case of proteomic analysis this element is even more important due to the amount of cross‐reactions that should be taken into consideration. The incorporation of new post‐translational modifications, protein hydrolysis, or even its degradation is possible as side effects of proteins sample processing. If protocols are evaluated appropriately, then identification of such proteins does not bring difficulties. However, if structural changes are provided without sufficient attention then protein sequence coverage will be reduced or even identification of such proteins could be impossible. This review summarizes obstacles and achievements in protein sample preparation of urine for proteome analysis using different tools for mass spectrometry analysis. The main aim is to present comprehensively the idea of urine application as a valuable matrix. This article is dedicated to sample preparation and application of urine mainly in novel cancer biomarkers discovery.     

Determination of aminoglycoside residues in kidney and honey samples by hydrophilic interaction chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry

Two methods based on liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry were developed for the determination of ten aminoglycosides (streptomycin, dihydrostreptomycin, spectinomycin, apramycin, paromomycin, kanamycin A, gentamycin C1, gentamycin C2/C2a, gentamycin C1a, and neomycin B) in kidney samples from food‐producing animals and in honey samples. The methods involved extraction with an aqueous solution (for the kidney samples) or sample dissolution in water (for the honey samples), solid‐phase extraction with a weak cation exchange cartridge and injection of the eluate into a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry system. A zwitterionic hydrophilic interaction chromatography column was used for separation of aminoglycosides and a triple quadrupole mass analyzer was used for detection. The methods were validated according to Decision 2002/657/EC. The limits of quantitation ranged from 2 to 125 μg/kg in honey and 25 to 264 μg/kg in the kidney samples. Interday precision (RSD%) ranged from 6 to 26% in honey and 2 to 21% in kidney. Trueness, expressed as the percentage of error, ranged from 7 to 20% in honey and 1 to 11% in kidney.     

Determination of aminoglycosides in honey by capillary electrophoresis tandem mass spectrometry and extraction with molecularly imprinted polymers

A new analytical method based on capillary zone electrophoresis-tandem mass spectrometry is proposed and validated for the identification and simultaneous quantification of nine aminoglycosides in honey samples. Detection using an ion trap mass analyzer operating in the multiple reaction monitoring mode was used. Different parameters were optimized in order to obtain an adequate separation combined with the highest sensitivity. In order to achieve high selectivity in the sample treatment, a commercially-available molecularly imprinted polymer has been used for the solid phase extraction of the analytes. Under optimum conditions, recoveries for fortified samples ranged from 88.2 to 99.8%, with relative standard deviations lower than 8%. The limits of detection ranged from 0.4 to 28.5 μg kg⁻¹. Furthermore, the decision limit and the detection capability were evaluated, ranging from 3.5 to 60.5 μg kg⁻¹ and from 6.0 to 103.1 μg kg⁻¹, respectively, demonstrating the sensitivity and applicability of this fast and simple method.     

液相色谱-串联四级杆质谱对食品中丙烯酰胺的测定研究

用液相色谱-串联四级杆质谱法检测食品中丙烯酰胺的含量.添加氘标记的内标d3-丙烯酰胺于样品中,经纯水提取,用Oasis HLB和Bond Elut Accucat固相萃取柱净化.Zorbax XDB-C18色谱柱分离,流动相为MeOH-H2O(体积比1:99)含0.1%HAc溶液,流速0.19 mL/min.电喷雾正离子MRM模式检测:丙烯酰胺m/z 72→55,内标m/z 75→58.内标法定量,方法定量下限(LOQ,S/N＞10)为50 ngg/,在质量浓度0.005～100 μg/mL范围内,峰面积与浓度成良好线性(r＞0.998).本法快速、准确、检出限低、实用性强.     

Determination of multi-class pesticides in wines by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

This work reports a new sensitive multi-residue liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for detection, confirmation and quantification of forty-six pesticides and transformation products belonging to different chemical classes in wines. The proposed method makes use of a solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure with Oasis HLB cartridges that combines isolation of the pesticides and sample clean-up in a single step. Analysis is performed by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) operated in the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode, acquiring two specific precursor-product ion transitions per target compound. An investigation of matrix effects has been performed during method validation showing medium to low effects for the majority of the compounds. Limits of detection (LODs) were in the range 0.0003–0.003 mg L⁻¹ and limits of quantification (LOQs) were in the range 0.001–0.01 mg L⁻¹. The average recoveries, measured at two concentration levels (0.010 and 0.050 mg L⁻¹), were in the range 70–110% for most of the compounds tested with % relative standard deviations below 20%, while a value of 0.010 mg L⁻¹ has been established as the method limit of quantification (MLOQ) for all target species. Expanded uncertainty values were in the range 10–40% while the Horrat ratios were below 1. The method has been successfully applied to the analysis of 60 wine samples in the course of an annual monitoring study with carbendazim-benomyl, thiophanate-methyl and carbaryl being the most frequently determined pesticides.     

液相色谱-串联质谱法测定血清中15种胆汁酸

建立了血清中15种胆汁酸的液相色谱-串联质谱(LC-MS/MS)测定方法。血清样品经乙腈沉淀蛋白后,用Capcell Pak C18MG柱分离,以乙腈-醋酸铵缓冲液为流动相进行梯度洗脱,流速0.25 mL/min,进样10μL,采用多反应监测(MRM)定量分析。在定量范围内,15种胆汁酸的线性关系良好,批内、批间的RSD分别为2.3%~12.7%和1.1%~14.3%,回收率在75%~101%之间。应用本法测定了10名健康儿童血清中的胆汁酸含量。该方法的样品处理简单快速,检测准确灵敏,可满足临床血样中胆汁酸含量测定的要求。     

Determination of pesticides and veterinary drug residues in food by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry: A review

Monitoring of pesticides and veterinary drug residues is required to enforce legislation and guarantee food safety. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is the prevailing technique for assessing both types of residues because LC offers a versatile and universal separation mechanism suitable for non-gas chromatography (GC) amenable and the majority of GC-amenable compounds. This characteristic becomes more relevant when LC is coupled to MS because the high sensitivity and specificity of the detector allows to apply generic sample preparation procedures, which simultaneously extract a wide variety of residues with different physico-chemical properties. Determination of metabolites and degradation products, non-target suspected screening of an increasing number of residues, and even unknowns identification are also becoming inherent LC-MS advantages thanks to the latest advances. For routine analysis and, in particular, for official surveillance purposes in food control, analytical methods properly validated following strict guidelines are needed. After a brief introduction and an outline of the legislation applicable around the world, aspects such as improvement of specificity of high-throughput methods, resolution and mass accuracy of identification strategies and quantitative accuracy are critically reviewed in this article. In them, extraction, separation and determination are emphasized. The main objective is to offer an assessment of the state of the art and identify research needs and future trends in determining pesticide and veterinary drug residues in food by LC-MS.     

Determination of priority pesticides in baby foods by gas chromatography tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry

A gas chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method for the determination of twelve priority pesticides, and transformation products (e.g. metabolites) specified in the EU Baby Food Directive 2003/13/EC is described. Prior to GC-MS/MS analysis, co-extractives were removed from acetonitrile extracts using dispersive solid phase extraction with octadecyl (200 mg) and primary secondary amine (50 mg) sorbents. The clean up proved essential for the satisfactory long-term chromatographic performance during the analysis of a range of representative commercially pre-prepared baby food samples. Extracts spiked with pesticides at 1-8 microg kg(-1), yielded average recoveries in the range 60-113% with relative standard deviations less than 28%.