Pesticide residue analysis of fruit juices by LC-MS/MS direct injection. One year pilot survey

For this work, thirteen types of fruit juices (orange, pineapple, peach, apple, multifruit, mango, strawberry, tomato, pear, mandarin, grape, banana and grapefruit) were selected to develop an analytical method for the analysis of 53 pesticides by direct injection in LC-MS/MS. The preparation of the samples was very simple: an aliquot of the juice was centrifuged and it was ten-times diluted prior to analysis, which allowed reducing considerably the time and cost of the analyses. Besides, dilution of the samples permits reducing the amount of matrix going into the system, and thus, decreasing the matrix effects, so common in this type of commodities, opening the possibility to perform quantification with solvent based standards. Validation of the method was carried out in accordance with EU guidelines. Calibration curves covering three orders of magnitude were performed, and they were linear over the concentration range studied for all the matrices (from 0.1 to 100 μg L⁻¹). Practical limits of quantification were in the low μg L⁻¹ range, far below the maximum residue levels (MRLs) of the EU regulations, which do not set specific MRLs for juices, and in this cases of processed food, MRLs of the raw product are applied. Repeatability of the instrumental method was studied in all matrices, obtaining good intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSDs). The proposed method was applied to 106 real fruit juice samples purchased in different local markets during a one-year survey in order to validate the suitability for routine analysis. 43% of the analysed samples gave positive results (higher than the practical limits of quantification).     

New home-made assembly for hollow-fibre membrane extraction of persistent organic pollutants from real world samples

Nowadays, hollow fibre membrane extraction techniques are widely used but they are usually applied to water or very simple matrices such as water. In this paper, we propose a new assembly that allows the extraction of forty persistent organic pollutants in real world samples, namely orange juice, porcine plasma and tomatoes. The limits of detection obtained are very low even in the analysis of real samples (9-182 ng L(-1)). The relative standard deviations vary from 1 to 18% and the averaged recoveries in the spike experiments are very high (65-120%) in the different types of samples studied. The new assembly allows a very good precision overcoming in one of the most important shortcomings of membrane extraction techniques. A central composite design has been performed to get optimal extraction conditions for the analytes and also the combined response of all the analytes has been obtained to attain the simultaneous optimum.     

A Chemometric Investigation on the Functional Potential in High Power Ultrasound (HPU) Processed Strawberry Juice Made from Fruits Harvested at two Stages of Ripeness

This work aimed to investigate the influence of high-power ultrasound (HPU) technology on the stability of bioactive compounds in strawberry juices obtained from fruits with different stages of ripeness (75% vs. 100%) and stored at 4 °C for 7 days. HPU parameters were amplitude (25, 50, 75, and 100%), pulses (50 vs. 100%) and treatment time (5 vs. 10 min). Amplitude and pulse had a significant effect (p ≤ 0.05) on all bioactive compounds except flavonols and hydroxycinnamic acids. The treatment duration of 5 min vs. 10 min had a significant positive impact on the content of anthocyanins, flavonols and condensed tannins, while the opposite was observed for total phenols, whereas no statistically significant effect was observed for hydroxycinnamic acids. The temperature changes during HPU treatment correlated positively with almost all HPU treatment parameters (amplitude, pulse, energy, power, frequency). Optimal parameters of HPU were obtained for temperature changes, where the highest content of a particular group of bioactive compounds was obtained. Results showed that by combining fruits with a certain ripeness and optimal HPU treatment, it would be possible to produce juices with highly preserved bioactive compounds, while HPU technology has prospects for application in functional food products.     

Controlling of Mycobacterium by Natural Degradant-Combination Models for Sequestering Mycolic Acids in Karish Cheese

Degradation of the mycobacterial complex containing mycolic acids (MAs) by natural bioactive compounds is essential for producing safe and value-added foods with therapeutic activities. This study aimed to determine the degradation efficiency of natural organic acid extracts (i.e., citric, malic, tartaric, and lactic), quadri-mix extract from fruits and probiotics (i.e., lemon, apple, grape, and cell-free supernatant of Lactobacillus acidophilus), and synthetic pure organic acids (i.e., citric, malic, tartaric, and lactic), against MA in vitro in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and Karish cheese models. The degradation effect was evaluated both individually and in combinations at different concentrations of degradants (1, 1.5, and 2%) and at various time intervals (0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h). The results show that MA degradation percentage recorded its highest value at 2% of mixed fruit extract quadri-mix with L. acidophilus and reached 99.2% after 48 h both in PBS and Karish cheese, unlike other treatments (i.e., citric + malic + tartaric + lactic), individual acids, and sole extracts at all concentrations. Conversely, organic acid quadri-mix revealed the greatest MA degradation% of 95.9, 96.8, and 97.3% at 1, 1.5, and 2%, respectively, after 48 h. Citric acid was more effective in MA degradation than other acids. The fruit extract quadri-mix combined with L. acidophilus-fortified Karish cheese showed the highest sensorial characteristics; hence, it can be considered a novel food-grade degradant for MA and could be a promising biocontrol candidate against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in food matrices.     

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) Seeds—A Valuable Byproduct for Further Processing

The rational exploitation of byproducts is important from the point of view of their potential applicability in various fields. In this study, the possibility of further processing of blackcurrant seeds (BCs), which are a byproduct of fruit processing, was investigated. BCs were used as a material for the extraction of oil on a semi-industrial scale, and the residues were assessed in terms of their potential application in skin care products. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using CO₂ at pressures of 230 and 330 bar and extraction temperature of 40 °C was exploited for isolation of oil, and the products were characterised taking into account lipophilic constituents. After 120 min, the oil yields were 19.67% and 20.94% using CO₂ at 230 and 330 bar, respectively, which showed that SFE was an effective method on a semi-industrial scale, taking into account the extraction yield. The oils had similar fatty acid compositions with a high percentage of linoleic acid (ca. 43%); however, tocopherols and carotenoids were most abundant in the oil obtained at 230 bar. It was also found that the composition of the SFE oils was comparable with that of cold-pressed oil, which shows that supercritical fluid extraction provides a high-quality product; therefore, it can be an alternative to cold pressing. Furthermore, the chemical compositions of the extracts from the oil isolation residues were established using UPLC-MS, and the impact of the extracts on human skin fibroblasts was assessed using the MTT and NR assays. The quantitative analysis revealed that the residues contained high amounts of polyphenolic acids, including gallic, protocatechuic, and hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, as well as flavonoids, especially quercetin and kaempferol glucoside. Moreover, it was found that the extracts were nontoxic and exerted a stimulatory effect on cell metabolism. Therefore, they can be a valuable additive to natural plant-based cosmetics. Our results showed that blackcurrant seeds, regarded as a byproduct, can be a valuable material for further use.     

Quality Changes in Black Chokeberry Juice Treated by Thermal-Assisted High Hydrostatic Pressure during Cold Storage

The effects of thermal-assisted high hydrostatic pressure (TAHHP), high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), and thermal pasteurization (TP) treatments on the quality of aronia juice were evaluated in this study. The results showed that TAHHP and HHP significantly decreased the aerobic plate counts of aronia juice. No significant differences in terms of physicochemical properties, such as pH and total soluble solids, were observed between aronia juice treated with high pressure or thermal pasteurization treatment after 28 days of storage. TAHHP and HHP affected the colour and antioxidant characteristics of aronia juice, though to a significantly lower extent than TP. This result demonstrates that TAHHP and HHP can better maintain the original quality of aronia juice than TP. In summary, both TAHHP and HHP can maintain the microbiological safety and original quality characteristics of aronia juice. TAHHP can effectively increase the safety and duration of cold storage of aronia juice, and hence is highly useful for the juice industry.     

单扫描极谱法测定果、蔬中有机磷农药残留量

提出了在0．40mol/L氢氧化钠底液中对碱解后的有机磷农药进行单扫描极谱测定的方法。于起始电位－0．30V（vs SCE)进行阴极化扫描时有产生一灵敏导数波,峰电位为－0．53V（vs SCE)。并获得了辛硫磷残留量检测的最佳条件。在此条件下检测有机磷农药的线性范围分别为：辛硫磷0．12－160μg/mL,甲基对硫磷0．5－200μg/mL,水胺硫磷0．20－160μg/mL,甲胺磷0．1－1．0ng/mL,氧化乐果0．09－160μg/mL。     

QuEChERS前处理-液相色谱-串联质谱测定果蔬中18种弱酸性农药残留

建立了液相色谱-串联质谱同时快速测定水果蔬菜中唑菌酮等18种弱酸性农药残留的方法。样品采用1%乙酸-乙腈提取、无水硫酸镁及乙酸钠盐析、C18分散固相萃取净化。考察了唑菌酮在电喷雾离子源的离子化效率,发现在负离子电离模式下加乙酸铵能显著提高唑菌酮的离子化效率。液相色谱以CSH C18色谱柱进行分离,5 mmol/L乙酸铵-乙腈为流动相进行梯度洗脱。质谱分析采用电喷雾负离子电离、多反应监测模式,以基质匹配校准曲线外标法进行定量分析。18种农药在8种基质(青花菜、大葱、胡萝卜、荷兰豆、香菇、苹果、猕猴桃、橙)中3个添加水平(10,20,100μg/kg)的回收率为71.4%~119.7%,相对标准偏差为1.2%~10.0%。18种农药的定量下限(S/N≥10)为0.1~2.0μg/kg。方法简便、灵敏、环保,适用于水果蔬菜中唑菌酮等18种弱酸性农药残留的测定。     

固相微萃取-气相色谱/质谱法测定果汁及茶饮料中的10种光引发剂

建立了用固相微萃取结合气相色谱/质谱（GC/MS）检测13种果汁饮料和3种茶饮料中10种光引发剂的方法。通过正交试验筛选对萃取过程影响较大的因素,再通过单因素试验进一步优化,确定最佳的操作条件。样品经萃取后,在GC/MS进样口解吸3 min,经HP-5MS色谱柱分离,以选择离子方式监测,外标法定量。为消除基质的干扰,以样品基质加标做工作曲线,线性范围为0.3~60 μg/L,检出限为3~16 ng/L。分别对4个不同加标水平的样品平行测定5次,相对标准偏差均小于14.5%。对不同品牌、不同种类的16种盒装饮料进行了测定,所有样品中全部检出二苯甲酮,部分样品中检出对二甲氨基苯甲酸异辛酯、2-异丙基硫杂蒽酮、4-甲基二苯甲酮、1-羟基环己基苯基甲酮、2-氯噻吨酮。该方法操作简单、灵敏度高、无污染,可对10种光引发剂同时测定。该研究结果为从包装材料迁移至饮料中的光引发剂的测定提供了参考。     

大体积进样气质联用法测定浓缩果蔬汁中农药的残留量

建立了气相色谱-质谱同时检测果蔬汁中多类农药残留的方法。利用Agilent仪器的保留时间锁定功能（RTL）及相应的质谱农药库，建立了多类农药选择离子监测的分组时间窗，避免了仪器维护后农药保留时间烦琐的更新过程，保证了农药保留时间的重复性；探讨了具有溶剂排空模式的程序升温蒸发（PTV）对大体积进样的作用。通过对分流排空量、吹扫时间、PTV温度及其进样体积等PTV参数的优化，提高了检测灵敏度。通过同位素标汜农药作为内标，GC—MS的定量可靠性得到改善。