Rapid screening for pesticides using automated online sample preparation with a high-resolution benchtop Orbitrap mass spectrometer

Abstract

For pesticide analysis in food products a common approach is to develop a fast multi-residue method that is capable of identifying and quantifying a large number of analytes in various matrices. This study demonstrates rapid screening and accurate mass confirmation of 116 pesticides in oranges and hazelnuts using an automated online sample preparation method with turbulent-flow chromatography technology coupled to a high-resolution benchtop Orbitrap™ mass spectrometer. The limits of quantification (LOQs) for the majority of analytes are well below the maximum residue limit (MRL) set by the European Union and the Japanese government. The recoveries were in the range of 70–120% for over 75% of analytes in both matrices. The present methodology is suitable for routine pesticides analysis in food safety laboratories.

Keywords:

• LC/MS
• screening assays
• extraction
• pesticide residues

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr Jon Wong at the USFDA for providing the pesticide standards used in this study; and Susan Lowd for drawing Figure 1.