Matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction of organophosphorus and synthetic pyrethroid pesticides in cashew nut and passion fruit

Determination of Pyrethroids in Paris polyphylla Sample by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Using Ultrasound-Assisted Magnetic Solid-Phase Extraction

A novel ultrasound-assisted magnetic solid-phase extraction (UA-MSPE) was developed for the separation/preconcentration of trace amounts of pyrethroids (fenpropathrin, fenvalerate, deltamethrin, and bifenthrin) in Paris polyphylla sample using carbon nanotubes based on Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@CNT MNPs), and high-performance liquid chromatography-UV is described. High recoveries of pyrethroids were obtained at a low MNPs concentration because sonication enhances the contact chances between magnetic nanoparticles and extractable analytes and promotes the extractability of the MSPE process. After the extraction, the adsorbent can be conveniently separated from the sample solution by an external magnet, and the adsorbed analytes were eluted from magnetic Fe₃O₄@CNT. The main factors influencing the extraction efficiency including the amount of the MNPs, the extraction time, the pH of sample solution, the sonicating time, and the desorption conditions were studied and optimized. Under the optimized experimental conditions, a good linearity was observed in the range of 1-100.0 ng mL^-1 for all the analytes, with the correlation coefficients (r) ranging from 0.9962 to 0.9991. The limits of detection of the four pyrethroids are 0.53, 0.26, 0.47, and 0.67 ng mL^-1, respectively. The recoveries of the method were in the range between 85.5% and 93.2%. This method is much faster and more effective than traditional SPE methods, and it is promising for the analysis of pyrethroids residues.

Simultaneous determination of 106 pesticides in nuts by LC-MS/MS using freeze-out combined with dispersive solid-phase extraction purification

As a result of the low water content and high fat matrices in nuts, it is very difficult to simultaneously determine multi-pesticides in trace levels. Here, a sample pretreatment method was developed in which, microwave-assisted solvent extraction was firstly used to extract pesticides, and then a two-step cleanup method was conducted combining freeze-out with dispersive solid-phase extraction to remove the lipidic matrix. By this way, 106 pesticides were simultaneously determined in the complicated nut sample by using an ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with a tandem mass spectrometer. Average recoveries were 75.3-119.3% with relative standard deviations < 14% at three concentration levels. The limits of detection and quantification were in the ranges of 0.3-3.0 and 1.0-10.0 μg/kg, respectively. Furthermore, the method was successfully applied to the determination of pesticides in 180 commercial nut samples.

Procedures of determining organic trace compounds in municipal sewage sludge-a review

Sewage sludge is the largest by-product generated during the wastewater treatment process. Since large amounts of sludge are being produced, different ways of disposal have been introduced. One tempting option is to use it as fertilizer in agricultural fields due to its high contents of inorganic nutrients. This, however, can be limited by the amount of trace contaminants in the sewage sludge, containing a variety of microbiological pollutants and pathogens but also inorganic and organic contaminants. The bioavailability and the effects of trace contaminants on the microorganisms of soil are still largely unknown as well as their mixture effects. Therefore, there is a need to analyze the sludge to test its suitability before further use. In this article, a variety of sampling, pretreatment, extraction, and analysis methods have been reviewed. Additionally, different organic trace compounds often found in the sewage sludge and their methods of analysis have been compiled. In addition to traditional Soxhlet extraction, the most common extraction methods of organic contaminants in sludge include ultrasonic extraction (USE), supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) followed by instrumental analysis based on gas or liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.

A novel high selectivity chemiluminescence sensor for fenvalerate based on double-sided hollow molecularly imprinted materials

Novel fenvalerate double-sided hollow molecularly imprinted microspheres (fenvalerate-DHMIMs) were fabricated by in situ polymerization with the help of mesoporous silica microspheres (MSMs) in this paper for the very first time. Scanning electron microscope was employed to characterize the surface morphology of the fenvalerate-DHMIMs. Taking advantage of the quenching effect of fenvalerate on the luminol-H(2)O(2)-NaOH chemiluminescence system, a new model was established to determine fenvalerate by a highly selective flow injection chemiluminescence method. The traditional flow-through cell was replaced by a novel Y-shaped column. The chemiluminescence intensity was linear with fenvalerate concentration over the range of 5.0 × 10(-8) to 2.0 × 10(-5) g mL(-1) and the detection limit was 2.2 × 10(-8) g mL(-1). The relative standard deviation (RSD) for the determination of 2.0 × 10(-6) g mL(-1) fenvalerate was 1.4% (n = 11). The proposed method was applied to the determination of fenvalerate in real samples with satisfactory results.

Ultrasonic-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion as an improved methodology for the determination of pesticides in fruits

An ultrasonic-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion (UA-MSPD) method has been developed for extracting and cleaning-up 15 organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) and 9 triazines in fruits. Using reversed phase octasilyl-derivatised silica (C8) as dispersant and ethyl acetate as extraction solvent, two sonication devices, an ultrasonic bath and a sonoreactor, were tested for speeding and increasing the efficiency of the MSPD process. A standard MSPD and a heating-assisted MSPD procedure were also done. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for analyte determination. 1-min sonication with the sonoreactor at 50% amplitude provided the best results, with reproducibilities below 15% for the pesticides studied. The general low detection limits (1-42microgkg(-1)) ensure proper determination at maximum allowed residue levels set in current legislations, except for dimethoate and disulfuton. The analytical performance of the method was evaluated for apples, pear and apricot, showing little or no matrix effect.

Analysis of pesticides in nuts by online reversed-phase liquid chromatography-gas chromatography using the through-oven transfer adsorption/desorption interface

A new method to determine pesticide residues in nuts is presented, in which the pesticides are extracted from samples with a small amount of ethyl acetate and anhydrous sodium sulfate. No additional cleanup or concentration steps are necessary. The extract is directly injected into the high-pressure liquid chromatograph, where preseparation of the pesticide residues from other components coextracted from the nuts is carried out using methanol/water as the eluent. The selected liquid chromatography fraction containing the pesticides is automatically transferred to the gas chromatograph using the through-oven transfer adsorption/desorption interface. The calculated limits of detection for each pesticide varied from 0.1 to 61.3 microg/kg. The repeatabilities of the analysis and the overall procedure (extraction and analysis) were satisfactory. No variations in the retention time were observed. The method was applied to the analysis of pistachio nut, peanut, walnut, hazelnut, and sunflower seed.

Matrix solid-phase dispersion as a valuable tool for extracting contaminants from foodstuffs

This review updates our knowledge on matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD), a sample treatment procedure that is increasingly used for extracting/purifying contaminants from a variety of solid, semi-solid, viscous, and liquid foodstuffs. MSPD is primarily used because of its flexibility, selectivity, and the possibility of performing extraction and cleanup in one step, this resulting in drastically shortening of the analysis time and low consumption of toxic and expensive solvents. Technical developments and parameters influencing the extraction yield and selectivity are examined and discussed. Experimental results for the analysis of pesticides, veterinary drugs, persistent environmental chemicals, naturally occurring toxicants, and surfactants in food are reviewed.

Matrix solid-phase dispersion technique for the determination of a new antiallergic drug, bilastine, in rat faeces

A matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) procedure for the isolation and HPLC determination of a new antiallergic agent, bilastine, in rat faeces is presented. The effect on recovery of empirical variables such as nature, pH and volume of the washing and elution liquids and nature of the adsorbent has been tested. The best recoveries were attained using an octadecylsilyl sorbent, 10 ml of a 0.1 M NaHCO3-Na2CO3 aqueous buffer of pH 10.0 as washing solvent and 10 ml of methanol as elution solvent. The extracts were evaporated to dryness and reconstituted in mobile phase before their injection into a HPLC system, equipped with a Discovery RP-amide C16 column and a fluorescence detector. The method allows one to reach recoveries of 95.0% within the concentration range 0.05-10 microg/g, with within-day repeatabilities of less than 5% and between-day repeatabilities of less than 9% within this range. This method has been successfully applied to the excretion studies of bilastine in the rat.

Miniaturized automated matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction of pesticides in fruit followed by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis

In this study a simple and fast miniaturized automated matrix solid-phase dispersion method for the sample preparation and quantitative extraction of pesticides was developed and evaluated. Only 25 mg of sample and 100 microl of organic solvent were used per analysis for this new miniaturized set-up. The extracts were subsequently analysed by GC-MS without any further purification. The method was optimized for oranges and tested for the determination of a variety of organophosphorus pesticides and a pyrethroid at concentration levels below the maximum residue levels set by the European Union and authorities in The Netherlands. The limits of detection were 4-90 microg/kg. The recoveries for pesticides in orange were 83-118% and the relative standard deviations for the total procedure were 10-13% (n=4) at the limit of quantification. The feasibility of the developed method for apple, pear and grapes was also studied. Equally good results were obtained, but for apple the washing step should be omitted.

Selective enrichment of 17 pyrethroids from lyophilised agricultural samples

The screening of agricultural samples to determine 17 synthetic pyrethroids was investigated. Samples were lyophilised without losses of the insecticides, and then extracted with n-hexane. A simple, continuous preconcentration-elution system was developed, which included a silica sorbent column (packed with 50 mg) and used an air stream to carry the eluent (ethyl acetate) which minimised the eluate volume thus increasing the preconcentration factor; so no evaporation step was required. Pyrethroids were determined by gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD) by using a 5% phenylmethylpolysiloxane-coated fused-silica capillary column; gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to identify the pyrethroids detected by GC-ECD monitoring. Limits of detection varied between 0.1 and 0.8 ng/ml (except for piperonyl butoxide, 25 ng/ml) with linear ranges from 1 to 200 ng/ml; the precision of the method was high (3-6%). Recoveries of 17 insecticides from 14 different agricultural samples fortified at levels of 20-100 ng/g ranged from 66 to 102% (bifenthrin and deltamethrin were those providing the lowest values, 66-87%). Pyrethroids were detected in eight samples (from the 100 unfortified agricultural samples tested) at concentrations lower than the established maximum residue limits (MRLs).

Multiresidue screening of pesticides in fruits using an automatic solid-phase extraction system

About 20 pesticides were determined in lyophilized fruits using a semiautomatic multiresidue method, based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) with a silica column. The lyophilization of the sample, besides the SPE procedure selected, provided clean extracts despite the complexity of the matrixes studied. In addition, the lyophilization process allows sample preservation for at least three months without changes in the concentrations of the pesticides. Determination and quantitation of organochlorine and pyrethroid residues was carried out using a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD), and a mass spectrometric detector (GC-MS) was used for confirmation purposes. Organochlorine pesticides provided average recoveries (spiked at three concentration levels in eight different fruits) near 93 +/- 4%, being lower (89 +/- 8%) for pyrethroids as a consequence of their higher degradation and interaction with the sample matrix. On the other hand, the detection limits achieved for all pesticides (0.5-8 ng per g of lyophilized fruit) allow their determination at the MRLs established by the European Union, with good precision ( approximately 5%). Finally, from the 100 different fruits screened, only 10 positive responses were obtained, which were further confirmed by GC-MS.