A multiresidue method for the determination 234 pesticides in Korean herbs using gas chromatography mass spectrometry

A rapid, specific and sensitive multiresidue method based on dispersive solid phase extraction sample preparation and gas chromatography with the mass spectrometric detection for the analysis of 234 pesticides in Korean herbs (Acanthopanax senticosus, Morus alba L., Hovenia dulcis) has been developed. Method recoveries were found to be between 62 and 119% with relative standard deviation lower than 21% for all compounds in the concentration range of 0.05 to 0.400 mg kg^? 1. Limits of quantification of most compounds are below 0.050 mg kg^? 1. The data demonstrate that this method was successfully used for analysis of 234 pesticides in Korean herbs.     

Simplified pesticide multiresidue analysis of soybean oil by low-temperature cleanup and dispersive solid-phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A simple, fast, and economical method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of 28 various types of pesticides in soybean oil. Pesticides of low molecular mass were separated from the fat of the oil, which has a high molecular mass, by using low-temperature fat precipitation, followed by a cleanup process based on dispersive solid-phase extraction with primary secondary amine and C18 as sorbents and magnesium sulfate for the removal of residual water. The results for all pesticides determined by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry in the selected-ion monitoring mode were linear, and the matrix effect of the method was evaluated. Recoveries of most pesticides were acceptable at fortification levels of 0.02, 0.05, 0.2, and 1 mg/kg. The relative standard deviation was <20% even for determinations without internal standards. Limits of quantitation ranged from 20 to 250 microg/kg.     

Development and validation of a routine multiresidue method for determining 140 pesticides in fruits and vegetables by gas chromatography/tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry

A GC/tandem quadrupole MS/MS method was developed and validated for the determination of the residues of 140 pesticides in fruits and vegetables. Pesticides were extracted from samples by using a miniaturized acetonitrile-based extraction technique known as the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method. Validation studies were carried out on carrots, tomatoes, and strawberries. In order to reduce systematic errors due to a matrix-induced effect, quantification was carried out using matrix-matched standard calibration curves. The recovery and precision results satisfied the European Union criteria (i.e., average recoveries were in the range 70-120% with RSDs < or = 20%) for 125 of the 140 pesticides at a spiking level of 0.01 mg/kg. At the higher spiking levels, there were just two instances of overall average recovery < 70% (chlorothalonil and captan). The measurement uncertainty was estimated following a "top down" approach as being 21 and 35%, on average, based on validation and ongoing recovery data, respectively (coverage factor k = 2, confidence level 95%). Practical application to 541 samples of apples, tomatoes, strawberries, cucumbers, currants, mushrooms, carrots, peppers, pears, onions, and gooseberries under strict QC conditions demonstrated the ruggedness of the total procedure.     

Development of analytical methods for multiresidue determination of quinolones in pig muscle samples by liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

This paper presents a comparison between liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (LC-UV), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods developed for the multiresidue determination of 8 quinolones, around their maximum residue levels (MRLs) in pig muscle. The procedure involves common extraction of the quinolones from the tissues by traditional extraction, a step for clean-up and preconcentration of the analytes by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and a subsequent liquid chromatographic analysis. The methods present satisfactory results of linearity, precision and limits of quantification much lower than the MRLs established by the European Union for quinolones in pig tissues.     

Multiresidue analytical method of pesticides in peanut oil using low-temperature cleanup and dispersive solid phase extraction by GC-MS

A method for the determination of 33 pesticides in peanut oil by GC-MS was described. Two extraction procedures based on (i) low-temperature extraction and (ii) liquid-liquid extraction were tested for the optimization of the method. The mixture of anhydrous MgSO(4) with primary secondary amine (PSA) or with PSA and C(18) was performed as sorbents in dispersive SPE. Low temperature along with PSA and C(18) cleanup gave the best results. Pesticides were identified and quantified by GC-MS in SIM mode. The correlation coefficients, R(2), in the linear range tests were better than 0.990. The average recoveries for most pesticides (spiked at 0.02, 0.05, 0.2, and 1 mg/kg) ranged from 70 to 110%, the RSD was below 20% in most instances, and LODs varied from 0.5 to 8 mug/kg.     

Development of a simple liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for multiresidue determination of antifungal drugs in chicken tissues

A method involving LC coupled with MS/MS (LC/MS/MS) was designed for simultaneous quantification of 10 antifungal drugs (voriconazole, griseofulvin, clotrimazole, bifonazole, econazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole, miconazole, terconazole, and fluconazole) in the liver and muscles of chickens. Homogenized tissue samples were extracted with acetonitrile and subsequently underwent freezing-delipidation. A Waters Acquity Ultra Performance LC BEH C18 column was used to separate the analytes, coupled with MS/MS using an electrospray ionization source. The accuracy of the method was confirmed with a mean recovery of 71-121%, and acceptable coefficients of variation (4-23%, n = 6). The detection capability of these compounds in two different matrixes was 0.50-2.82 microg/kg. This method can be applied for the screening and confirmation of target antifungal drugs in chicken tissues.     

气相色谱-串联质谱法测定土壤中的有机氯农药

建立了气相色谱-串联质谱测定土壤中有机氯农药的方法,同时测定了上海郊区的20个农业土壤。样品前处理包括加速溶剂萃取(弗罗里硅土池内净化)和凝胶渗透色谱净化在线浓缩。采用多反应监测模式的气相色谱-串联质谱分析有机氯农药,降低了背景干扰,提高了分析的灵敏度。在0.001～2 mg/L的质量浓度范围内,各种农药标准溶液的线性相关系数均大于0.995。分别向3种实际土壤样品中添加农药的混合标准溶液,所测定的有机氯农药的平均回收率为65.9%～140.0%,相对标准偏差为1.5%～20.3%(n=5)。有机氯农药的检出限（S/N=3）为0.1～3.0 μg/kg,定量限（S/N=10）为0.3～8.0 μg/kg。实际土壤样品的测定结果表明：六六六(1.82～3.70 μg/kg)和六氯苯(0.94～9.8 μg/kg)有少量检出,滴滴涕的检出率高达100%,其含量范围较宽(1.08～308.76 μg/kg),平均值为53.28 μg/kg,其中85%的样品中滴滴涕含量/(滴滴伊+滴滴滴)含量的比值小于1,表明滴滴涕主要来自于早期的使用     

Comprehensive multi-residue method for the target analysis of pesticides in crops using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) multi-residue method for the simultaneous target analysis of a wide range of pesticides and metabolites in fruit, vegetables and cereals has been developed. Gradient elution has been used in conjunction with positive mode electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry to detect up to 171 pesticides and/or metabolites in different crop matrices using a single chromatographic run. Pesticide residues were extracted/partitioned from the samples with acetone/dichloromethane/light petroleum. The analytical performance was demonstrated by the analysis of extracts from lettuce, orange, apple, cabbage, grape and wheat flour, spiked at three concentration levels ranging from 0.01 to 0.10 mg/kg for each pesticide and/or metabolite. In general, recoveries ranging from 70 to 110%, with relative standard deviations better than 15%, were obtained. The recovery and repeatability data are in good accordance with EU guidelines for pesticide residue analysis. The limit of quantification for all targeted pesticides and metabolites tested was 0.01 mg/kg. The selectivity and robustness of the LC-MS/MS method was demonstrated by a 1-year comparison of its analytical results with those obtained from our validated GC and LC multi-residue methods applied to more than 3500 routine samples. The validated LC-MS/MS method has been implemented in our analytical scheme since 2004, replacing four of the conventional detection methods, i.e. GC-flame-photometric detection (acephate, methamidophos, etc.), GC-nitrogen-phosphorus detection, LC-UV detection (carbendazim, thiabendazole, imazalil and prochloraz) and LC-fluorescence detection (N-methylcarbamate pesticides). During a 3-year period, the LC-MS/MS method has been applied to the analyses of more than 12,000 samples.     

Validation study on 660 pesticide residues in animal tissues by gel permeation chromatography cleanup/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A new method using gel permeation chromatography (GPC) cleanup followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) has been established for quantitative determination of 437 pesticide residues in animal tissues such as beef, mutton, pork, chicken, and rabbit. Based on an appraisal of the characteristics of both GC-MS and LC-MS-MS, validation experiments were conducted for 660 pesticides. In the method, 10 g animal samples were mixed with 20 g sodium sulfate and extracted with 35 mL of cyclohexane+ethyl acetate (1+1) twice by blender homogenization, centrifugation, and filtration. Evaporation was conducted and an equivalent of 5 g sample was injected into a 400 mm x 25 mm S-X3 GPC column, with cyclohexane+ethyl acetate (1+1) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 5 mL/min. The 22-40 min fraction was collected for subsequent analysis. For the 368 pesticides determined by GC-MS, the portions collected from GPC were concentrated to 0.5 mL and exchanged with 5 mL hexane twice. For the 69 pesticides by LC-MS-MS, the portions collected from GPC were dissolved with acetonitrile+water (60+40) after taking the extract to dryness with nitrogen gas. In the linear range of each pesticide, the correlation coefficient was r > or = 0.98, exceptions being dinobuton, linuron, and fenamiphos sulfoxide. At the low, medium and high three fortification levels of 0.2-4800 microg/kg, recoveries fell within 40-120%, among which 417 pesticides recoveries between 60% and 120%, accounting for 95%, 20 analytes between 40% and 60%, accounting for 5%. The relative standard deviation was below 28% for all 437 pesticides. The limits of detection for the method were 0.2-600 microg/kg, depending on each pesticide.     

串联双柱固相萃取-气相色谱-串联质谱法检测茶叶中拟除虫菊酯

建立了气相色谱-串联质谱定量检测花茶、绿茶、红茶和黑茶4类茶叶中氟氯氰菊酯、氯氰菊酯和氰戊菊酯3种拟除虫菊酯农药残留量的方法。样品采用乙腈进行提取,优化洗脱液配比,选择Carb/NH2和SLH双柱串联净化富集。采用外标法定量,30 min内完成农药残留检测。3种拟除虫菊酯的检出限分别为0.4、1.0和0.3μg/kg,在0.05~2.00 mg/kg内线性关系良好,相关系数均大于0.999。在0.10、0.50和2.00 mg/L 3个添加水平下,空白加标样品的回收率为80.6%~116.3%。茶叶实际样品检测结果的日内相对标准偏差(RSD)为1.3%~12.6%,日间RSD为2.7%~12.1%。该法操作简单,重现性好,适用于茶叶中拟除虫菊酯类农药残留的检测。     

Development and validation of a multi-residue liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry confirmatory method for eleven coccidiostats in eggs

A confirmatory method for the determination of residues of eleven coccidiostats including ionophore antibiotics: lasalocid, maduramycin, monensin, narasin, salinomycin, semduramycin and chemical coccidiostats: decoquinate, diclazuril, halofuginone, nicarbazin and robenidine in poultry eggs was developed and validated. The sample was extracted with acetonitrile, defatted with hexane and cleaned-up on a silica SPE cartridge. The analytes were identified and quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The method performance characteristics required by Commission Decision 2002/657/EC were estimated adopting a more flexible and simple validation design. In this alternative approach the experimental study focuses on a larger dynamic range with progressively increasing validation levels. Each of them presents equal concentrations of all the analytes. On the contrary the classical Decision plan investigates a restricted concentration range necessarily different for each analyte being determined by the individual permitted limit (0.5-1.5 times the permitted limit). As a consequence each validation level involves the simultaneous fortification with complex mixtures containing different concentrations of each analyte. Adopting this alternative strategy the validation of several substances with significantly different permitted limits is considerably simplified and a deeper knowledge of the method is achieved. The results proved that the method enables the confirmation of regulated coccidiostats in eggs at the levels required in the official control of residues (CCα in the range of 2.2-174 μg kg(-1), depending on the coccidiostat). The repeatability (CV(r) in the range of 1.1-19%) and within-laboratory reproducibility (CV(Rw) in the range of 1.8-30%) are also acceptable. The procedure was successfully verified in the proficiency test and implemented in the national residue control plan.     

Development of a multiresidue method for analysis of major Fusarium mycotoxins in corn meal using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive and reliable liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) method has been developed to determine, in a single run, eight trichothecenes, three fumonisins, zearalenone and alpha-zearalenol, in corn meal samples. LC and MS conditions were varied to find the best compromise in terms of sensitivity and separation. An acceptable compromise was obtained using a C18 column thermostatted at 45 degrees C and a mobile phase gradient of methanol/water with 10 mmol/L formate buffer (pH 3.8). A multiple reaction monitoring program, in which fumonisins and trichothecenes (except nivalenol and deoxynivalenol) are acquired in positive ESI as [M+H]+ or [M+NH4]+, and all other compounds in negative ESI, was developed to match appropriate retention time windows. Sample preparation used a simple homogenization of the corn meal sample with acetonitrile/water (75:25, v/v) followed by extraction on a C18 cartridge and clean-up on a cartridge containing graphitized carbon black. Method detection limits were in the range 2-14 ng/g, with the exception of nivalenol (27 ng/g), deoxynivalenol (40 ng/g) and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (30 ng/g). Good accuracy (recoveries 81-104%) and precision (RSD 4-11%) were obtained by performing calibration using a spiked analyte-free extract.     

Multiresidue analytical method using dispersive solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry to determine pharmaceuticals in whole blood

A convenient analytical method for the simultaneous determination of more than 40 pharmaceuticals belonging to various therapeutic categories in whole blood has been developed. Exemplarily, the method was fully validated for eight different pharmaceuticals. The procedure entails addition of acetonitrile, magnesium sulfate and sodium chloride to a small amount of blood, then the mixture is shaken intensively and centrifuged for phase separation. An aliquot of the organic layer is cleaned up by dispersive solid-phase extraction employing bulk sorbents as well as magnesium sulfate for the removal of residual water. This method was based on the QuEChERS approach developed for pesticide residue analysis in food. Gas chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with electron (EI) and chemical (CI) ionisation was then used for qualitative and quantitative determination of the pharmaceuticals. The dispersive SPE with PSA (sorbent functionalized with primary and secondary amines) was found more suitable than aminopropyl and a styrene-divinylbenzene sorbent for sample clean-up before drug level determination in whole blood and plasma, as it was found that most of endogenous matrix components were removed and the analytes were isolated from spiked samples with recoveries above 80%. Variation coefficients of the repeatability typically smaller than 10% have been achieved for a wide range of the investigated substances. The used analytical conditions allowed to separate successively a variety of drugs and poisons with the typical limit of detection at <20 ng mL(-1) levels using 1 microL injection of equivalent blood sample in whole blood. The method is simple, rapid, cheap and very effective for therapeutic drug monitoring and forensic chemistry.     

Determination of multiresidue pesticides in green tea by using a modified QuEChERS extraction and ion-trap gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

The pesticide residues in exported and imported tea products must not exceed the maximum residue limits (MRLs) regulated by the import countries. Tea is a complex matrix that obfuscates the determination of pesticide residues. Many available methods for multiresidue pesticide analysis of tea are time-consuming and require many cleanup steps. The objective of this study was to develop a simple multiresidue method by using a modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction and ion-trap GC/MS/MS, which can identify, confirm, and quantify pesticides in complex matrixes. A tea product was homogenized with water, and the pesticides were extracted with acetonitrile containing 1% acetic acid. The extract was subjected to centrifugation, initial cleanup with dispersive SPE (dSPE), solvent exchange, and final cleanup with dSPE. Diethyl-d10-parathion and triphenyl phosphate were used as the internal standard and surrogate, respectively. The final extract was injected into an ITQ 700 gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer. Quantitation of individual pesticides was based on matrix-matched calibration curves with a correlation coefficient of > 0.9930 for the 22 pesticides selected for the study. The recoveries of the 22 pesticides ranged from 78 to 115%, except those for diazinon (130%) and malathion (122%), with an average RSD of 8.7%. The LOD values of all of the pesticides, except for terbufos, were below the MRLs set by the European Union and Japan.     

Microwave-assisted extraction and large-volume injection gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry determination of multiresidue pesticides in edible seaweed

A microwave-assisted extraction method followed by clean-up with solid-phase extraction (SPE) combined with large-volume injection gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LVI-GC-MS/MS) for the analysis of 17 pesticides in wild and aquaculture edible seaweeds has been developed. An experimental central composite design was employed to evaluate the effects of the main variables potentially affecting the extraction (temperature, time, and solvent volume) and to optimize the process. The most effective microwave extraction conditions were achieved at 125 °C and 12 min with 24 mL of hexane/ethyl acetate (80:20). SPE clean-up of the extracts with graphitized carbon and Florisil, optimized by means of the experimental design, proved to be efficient in the removal of matrix interferences. The analytical recoveries were close to 100% for all the analytes, with relative standard deviations lower than 13%. The limits of detection ranged from 0.3 to 23.1 pg g⁻¹ and the limits of quantification were between 2.3 and 76.9 pg g⁻¹, far below the maximum residue levels established by the European Union for pesticides in seaweed. The results obtained prove the suitability of the microwave-assisted extraction for the routine analysis of pesticides in aquaculture and wild seaweed samples.     

Ultra-pressure liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry for multiresidue determination of pesticides in water

A multiresidue analysis method has been developed for the determination of pesticides in water by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) combined with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The selected pesticides represent a broad range of polarity and volatility [benzoylcyclohexanedione (mesotrione and sulcotrione); chloroacetamide (acetochlor, alachlor, dimethenamide, and metolachlor); phenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D and MCPA); phenoxypropionic (dichloprop and mecoprop); phenylurea (chlortoluron, diuron, isoproturon, linuron, and metoxuron); sulfonylurea (foramsulfuron, iodosulfuron, and nicolsulfuron); triazine (atrazine, cyanazine, desethylatrazine (DEA), desisopropylatrazine (DIA), simazine, and terbutylazine)]. The analytes were extracted using solid-phase extraction (SPE). The separation was carried out on an acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (1.7 microm, 50 mm x 1 mm ID) using a gradient elution profile and mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile. The pesticides were detected with a tandem mass spectrometer after being ionised positively or negatively (depending on the molecule) using an electrospray ionisation (ESI) source. To achieve the suitable extraction conditions for sample preparation, several parameters affecting the efficiency of SPE such as the nature of the sorbent and the eluent, extractant volume and pH were studied. The best recovery was obtained by the extraction with an Oasis HLB cartridge and 3 mL of a solution of acetonitrile/dichloromethane (1:1, v/v) at pH 2. The average recoveries of the pesticides in different samples ranged from 82 to 109%. The weight least squares (WLS) linear regression was used to calculate the limits of detection and quantification (LOD and LOQ) because the dispersion was heteroskedastic. All the pesticides could be correctly quantified at a concentration level of 50 ng L(-1) and most of them could be detected at a concentration inferior or equal to 8 ng L(-1). Efficiency and robustness of this method were evaluated by the analysis of several samples of real natural water.     

Development and validation of a multi-residue method for pesticide determination in honey using on-column liquid-liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

We report on the development and validation under ISO 17025 criteria of a multi-residue confirmatory method to identify and quantify 17 widely chemically different pesticides (insecticides: Carbofuran, Methiocarb, Pirimicarb, Dimethoate, Fipronil, Imidacloprid; herbicides: Amidosulfuron, Rimsulfuron, Atrazine, Simazine, Chloroturon, Linuron, Isoxaflutole, Metosulam; fungicides: Diethofencarb) and 2 metabolites (Methiocarb sulfoxide and 2-Hydroxytertbutylazine) in honey. This method is based on an on-column liquid-liquid extraction (OCLLE) using diatomaceous earth as inert solid support and liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) operating in tandem mode (MS/MS). Method specificity is ensured by checking retention time and theoretical ratio between two transitions from a single precursor ion. Linearity is demonstrated all along the range of concentration that was investigated, from 0.1 to 20 ng g(-1) raw honey, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.921 to 0.999, depending on chemicals. Recovery rates obtained on home-made quality control samples are between 71 and 90%, well above the range defined by the EC/657/2002 document, but in the range we had fixed to ensure proper quantification, as levels found in real samples could not be corrected for recovery rates. Reproducibility is found to be between 8 and 27%. Calculated CCalpha and CCbeta (0.0002-0.943 ng g(-1) for CCalpha, and 0.0002-1.232 ng g(-1) for CCbeta) show the good sensitivity attained by this multi-residue analytical method. The robustness of the method has been tested in analyzing more than 100 raw honey samples collected from different areas in Belgium, as well as some wax and bee samples, with a slightly adapted procedure.     

Development of a multiresidue method for analyzing herbicide and fungicide residues in bovine milk based on solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

The adverse effect of reactive chemical residues on the quality of drug products has necessitated the determination of low-molecular-weight aldehydes in pharmaceutical excipients. An analytical methodology for the detection of trace amounts of C1-C8 aliphatic aldehydes and benzaldehyde in excipients is described. The proposed procedure is based on the derivatization of aldehydes in aqueous solution with O-2,3,4,5,6-(pentafluorobenzyl) hydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA), followed by static headspace gas chromatographic (SHS-GC) analysis of PFBHA aldehyde oximes with negative chemical ionization (NCI) MS detection. The method developed was demonstrated to be simple, selective, sensitive, and was successfully applied to the screening of aldehydes at sub-microg/g levels in over 30 typical excipients. The most abundant aldehydes found in the samples were formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, for which a rapid and reliable routine quantification method by readily available SHS-GC instrumentation coupled with flame-ionization detection was also developed and validated.     

A multiresidue analytical method using solid-phase extraction and high-pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to measure pharmaceuticals of different therapeutic classes in urban wastewaters

An analytical method with two extraction steps has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of 30 pharmaceuticals belonging to various therapeutic categories in urban wastewater. The aim was to boost the little available information on drugs' fates in sewage treatment plants (STPs) and in the receiving surface water. Aqueous samples were divided into two aliquots, each extracted by a different solid-phase extraction (SPE) method and analysed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS-MS). Recoveries of the pharmaceuticals were mostly greater than 70% and the overall variability of the method was below 8%. The instrumental quantification limit (IQL) varied between 30 and 400 pg injected, and the limits of quantification (LOQ) were in the low ng/L range. Nineteen pharmaceuticals were detected in concentrations between 0.5 and 2000 ng/L in effluents collected from several STPs in Italy. Atenolol, ciprofloxacin, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, ofloxacin, ranitidine and sulphamethoxazole were the most abundant compounds. The present analytical method was useful to check for pharmaceuticals in various Italian STPs and to identify the most abundant compounds.