Recent Advances and Developments in the QuEChERS Method

Analysis of polyhalogenated carbazoles and two related compounds in earthworms using a modified QuEChERS method with GC/MS and GC/MS/MS

A precise analytical method based on QuEChERS has been proposed for the concurrent determination of 11 polyhalogenated carbazoles (PHCZs), benzocarbazole (BZCZ), and 9H-carbazoles (CZ). The quantification was confirmed by gas chromatography using triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (Shimadzu GC-MS/MS-TQ8040) and gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (Agilent 7890A-5973 GC-MS). The developed method was validated by testing the following parameters: linearity, instrument limit of detection (LOD), instrument limit of quantification (LOQ), method limit of detection (MLD), method limit of quantification (MLQ), matrix effect (ME), accuracy, and precision. All compounds showed good linearity in the range of 0.005-0.2 μg/mL with correlation coefficients higher than 0.992. The method demonstrated satisfactory recoveries (ranging from 71.21 to 105.04%) for most of the compounds with relative standard deviation precision (RSD) < 10.46%, except 3-BCZ (Recovery = 67.53%, RSD = 2.83%). The values of LOD and LOQ varied from 0.05 to 0.24 ng and 0.14 to 0.92 ng, respectively, while those of MLD and MLQ ranged from 0.02 to 0.12 ng/g wet weight (ww) and 0.07 to 0.45 ng/g ww, respectively. The developed method represents a reliable tool for the routine analysis of PHCZ congeners in invertebrate animals.

Validation and Simultaneous Monitoring of 311 Pesticide Residues in Loamy Sand Agricultural Soils by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS, Combined with QuEChERS-Based Extraction

Soil can be contaminated by pesticide residues through agricultural practices, by direct application or through spray-drift in cultivations. The dissipation of those chemicals in the soil may pose risks to the environment and human health. A simple and sensitive multi-residue analytical method was optimized and validated for the simultaneous determination of 311 active substances of pesticides in agricultural soils. The method involves sample preparation with QuEChERS-based extraction, and determination of the analytes with a combination of GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS techniques. Calibration plots were linear for both detectors over the range of five concentration levels, using matrix-matched calibration standards. The obtained recoveries from fortified-soil samples ranged from 70 to 119% and from 72.6 to 119% for GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS, respectively, while precision values were <20% in all cases. As regards the matrix effect (ME), signal suppression was observed in the liquid chromatography (LC)-amenable compounds, which was further estimated to be negligible. The gas chromatography (GC)-amenable compounds showed enhancement in the chromatographic response estimated as medium or strong ME. The calibrated limit of quantification (LOQ) value was 0.01 μg g^-1 dry weight for most of the analytes, while the corresponding calculated limit of determination (LOD) value was 0.003 μg g^-1 d.w. The proposed method was subsequently applied to agricultural soils from Greece, and positive determinations were obtained, among which were non-authorized compounds. The results indicate that the developed multi-residue method is fit for the purpose of analyzing low levels of pesticides in soil, according to EU requirements.

A global study of pesticides in bees: QuEChERS as a sample preparation methodology for their analysis - Critical review and perspective

To this day, it remains unknown what the cause of decline of honey bee populations is and how to prevent this phenomenon efficiently. Poisonings with pesticides are assumed to be among the main causes for the decline of the honey bee population. Despite the significant progress observed in analytics over recent years, research aimed at improving methods applied in diagnostics of bee poisoning is still in progress. This is no easy task, since determination of the content of trace amounts (often equal to sublethal doses) of a wide range of compounds with diverse physico-chemical properties in honey bee samples with a complex matrix composition poses a serious challenge to modern analytics. This overview is the first to include a comprehensive critical assessment of analytical methods proposed for quantification of pesticides in honey bees over the last decade. Since the QuEChERS method is currently of great significance to ensuring accurate and reliable results of pesticide quantification in honey bees, the present overview focuses on the major aspects of this method, which will provide a comprehensive reference for scientists. The review focuses on the limitations of methods and on potential future prospects. It also contains information on the detection of pesticides in honey bees between 2010 and 2020 and characterizes the pesticide classes which are most toxic to these insects. This is extremely important, not just in the context of understanding the potential adverse impact of pesticides, manifesting as losses in bee colonies; it is also intended to facilitate decision-making in future research related to this difficult yet very important subject.

[Advances in solid-phase extraction for bisphenols in environmental samples]

双酚类化合物作为一类内分泌干扰物广泛存在于环境介质中,经过多种途径迁移至人体后,可对人体产生内分泌毒性、细胞毒性、基因毒性、生殖毒性、二噁英毒性和神经毒性,已被加拿大政府风险评估识别为进一步优先控制名录。随着环境领域对双酚类化合物的广泛关注,相关研究工作逐渐向水、沉积物、灰尘和生物样品等多介质开拓。但是,由于不同环境样品在基质复杂性和污染物浓度水平等方面存在显著差异,开发提取效率高、净化选择性好、普适性强、操作简单、高通量的提取和净化方法,有助于实现环境介质中双酚类化合物的高灵敏、批量检测。近年来,新型前处理技术发展迅速,尤其是固相萃取技术,在双酚类化合物提取与净化方面取得了长足的发展,不仅在一定程度上克服了传统提取净化方法存在的耗时、耗力和耗溶剂等不足,而且为新型污染物分析提供了更多的技术支持。该文简述了典型双酚类化合物的理化性质、用途用量和环境危害,重点围绕新型固相萃取吸附剂开发和固相萃取模式转变两个方面,总结了固相萃取在双酚类化合物提取净化方法方面取得的进展。商品化固相萃取产品普适性强,在环境监测领域应用范围较广,适用于双酚类化合物的产品种类有限;新型吸附剂研发聚焦吸附容量(如介孔硅材料、碳纳米材料、金属-有机框架材料、环糊精)和选择性(如分子印迹聚合物和混合模式离子交换聚合物)两个方面,种类多样化可满足不同检测需求;越来越多的高灵敏分析仪器不断推向市场,为适应新的发展形势,固相萃取模式正逐渐向微型化、自动化、简易化等方向发展,如QuEChERS、固相微萃取、磁固相萃取等。

Simultaneous Determination of Multiple Mycotoxins in Swine, Poultry and Dairy Feeds Using Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A reliable, sensitive and accurate multiple mycotoxin method was developed for the simultaneous determination of 17 mycotoxins in swine, poultry and dairy feeds using stable isotope dilution (¹³C-ISTD) and (ultra)-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). A simple QuEChERS-based method (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) was developed consisting of soaking with a solution of 1% formic acid followed by extraction with acetonitrile, clean-up with C18 sorbent and finally adding ¹³C-ISTD before the UHPLC-MS/MS analysis. The chromatographic condition was optimized for separation and detection of the 17 mycotoxins using gradient elution. The method’s performance complied with the SANTE/11813/2017 standard and had mean recovery accuracies in the range 70%–120% and precision testing of % relative standard deviation (RSD) ≤ 20%. The limit of detection and limit of quantification values ranged from 0.25 to 40.0 ng/g and 0.5 to 100.0 ng/g, respectively. Finally, the method was applied to analyze feed samples, with the results showing that fumonisins, zearalenone, aflatoxin B1 and deoxynivalenol were the most prevalent mycotoxins contaminating the feed samples.

Quantification of PAH4 in roasted cocoa beans using QuEChERS and dispersive liquid-liquid micro-extraction (DLLME) coupled with HPLC-FLD

Roasting is an important process in cocoa production which may lead to formation of non-desirable compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Therefore, PAH4 (sum of four different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene) in roasted cocoa beans was determined using a modified method (combination of QuEChERS and DLLME), and quantified by HPLC-FLD. The modified method was validated and met the performance criteria required by the EU Regulation (No. 836/2011). Results show a significant (p < 0.05) increase of PAH4 (0.19-7.73 ng/g) with an increase in temperatures (110-190 °C) and duration (10-50 min). The PAHs content in whole cocoa bean roasting was detected even at the lowest temperature (110 °C) compared to nib roasting detected at 150 °C which indicates that PAHs was transferred from dried shells to roasted cocoa beans during the roasting process. The data obtained may help to control and minimize PAH4 formation during cocoa processing.

QuEChERS - Fundamentals, relevant improvements, applications and future trends

The Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) method is a simple and straightforward extraction technique involving an initial partitioning followed by an extract clean-up using dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE). Originally, the QuEChERS approach was developed for recovering pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables, but rapidly gained popularity in the comprehensive isolation of analytes from different matrices. According to PubMed, since its development in 2003 up to November 2018, about 1360 papers have been published reporting QuEChERS as extraction method. Several papers have reported different improvements and modifications to the original QuEChERS protocol to ensure more efficient extractions of pH-dependent analytes and to minimize the degradation of labile analytes. This analytical approach shows several advantages over traditional extraction techniques, requiring low sample and solvent volumes, as well as less time for sample preparation. Furthermore, most of the published studies show that the QuEChERS protocol provides higher recovery rate and a better analytical performance than conventional extraction procedures. This review proposes an updated overview of the most recent developments and applications of QuEChERS beyond its original application to pesticides, mycotoxins, veterinary drugs and pharmaceuticals, forensic analysis, drugs of abuse and environmental contaminants. Their pros and cons will be discussed, considering the factors influencing the extraction efficiency. Whenever possible, the performance of the QuEChERS is compared to other extraction approaches. In addition to the evolution of this technique, changes and improvements to the original method are discussed.