Tip-assisted ambient electric arc ionization mass spectrometry for rapid detection of trace organophosphorus pesticides in strawberry

In this study, an ambient mass spectrometry (AMS) based method was developed for rapid detection of organophosphorus pesticides in strawberry. This method combines an electric arc and a microsyringe tip to realize tip-assisted ambient electric arc ionization (TAAEAI). A high-voltage electric arc can be applied to the microsyringe tip to generate an electric field, which results in corona discharge at the microsyringe tip. The juiced strawberry sample loaded on the tip could be directly ionized with TAAEAI and then analyzed by a mass spectrometer. TAAEAI-MS was successfully applied to analyze 6 organophosphorus pesticides in three strawberry samples. Malathion and profenofos were detected from the investigated strawberry samples. This method could quantitatively determine the contents of organophosphorus pesticides in strawberry with high reproducibility, high precision, and high sensitivity. Sample matrices did not interfere with the pesticide analysis. The recoveries of organophosphorus pesticides spiked in strawberry samples varied between 82.6% and 116% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 9.2%. The limits of detection (LODs) varied between 0.0124 µg/g and 0.0245 µg/g, while the limits of quantification (LOQs) varied between 0.0413 µg/g and 0.0817 µg/g. The coefficients of determination (R²) of the method were determined to be >0.995. The method established here may have potential application in the detection of organophosphorus pesticides in vegetables and fruits.