Optimization of a matrix solid-phase dispersion method for the analysis of pesticide residues in vegetables

Determination of Pesticide Residues in IV Range Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L.) and Its Industrial Wastes

Fourth-range products are those types of fresh fruit and vegetables that are ready for raw consumption or after cooking, and belong to organic or integrated cultivations. These products are subject to mild post-harvesting processing procedures (selection, sorting, husking, cutting, and washing), and are afterwards packaged in packets or closed food plates, with an average shelf life of 5-10 days. Artichokes are stripped of the leaves, stems and outer bracts, and the remaining heads are washed with acidifying solutions. The A LC-MS/MS analytical method was developed and validated following SANTE guidelines for the detection of 220 pesticides. This work evaluated the distribution of pesticide residues among the fraction of artichokes obtained during the industrial processing, and the residues of their wastes left on the field were also investigated. The results showed quantifiable residues of one herbicide (pendimethalin) and four fungicides (azoxystrobin, propyzamide, tebuconazole, and pyraclostrobin). Pendimethalin was found in all samples, with the higher values in leaves 0.046 ± 8.2 mg/kg and in field waste 0.30 ± 6.7 mg/kg. Azoxystrobin was the most concentrated in the outer bracts (0.18 ± 2.9 mg/kg). The outer bracts showed the highest number of residues. The industrial waste showed a significant decrease in the number of residues and their concentration.

Uptake of azoles by lamb's lettuce (Valerianella locusta L.) grown in hydroponic conditions

An uptake and translocation study of azole compounds was performed in lamb's lettuce (Valerianella locusta L.) grown in nutrient solution fortified with different azoles. Three azoles, (clotrimazole, fluconazole and propiconazole), which have different physico-chemical properties and are ubiquitous in the aquatic environment, were the compounds selected. An analytical method, based on matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) followed by LC-MS/MS determination, was developed to quantify these compounds in aqueous solution and in roots and leaves. The physicochemical properties of azoles are the main factors governing the uptake and plant accumulation. These azoles were detected in leaves indicating their transport within lamb's lettuce. Translocation from nutrient solution to the aerial part of lamb's lettuce was found to be highly dependent on the hydrophobicity of the azole. Clotrimazole accumulates in roots causing necrosis in roots and leaves, whereas fluconazole was the azole with the highest concentration in leaves without causing apparent phytotoxicity symptoms. The assessment of the levels of these azoles in leaves indicates that the risk for human health is negligible.

Investigation on diazinon and oxydemeton-methyl residues in cucumbers grown in Kerman greenhouses

Pesticides are considered as the most polluting substances. The residue of pesticides in agricultural crops, especially in greenhouse harvests, has been reported critical. Cucumber, considered as a vegetable, is an agricultural product which is commonly found in the Iranian food basket. The current study aims to assess the level of diazinon and oxydemeton-methyl existing in cucumbers sampled from Kerman greenhouses. The pesticide residue was extracted by acetone and dichloromethane. The extracts were cleaned up according to the solid-phase extraction method. The pesticide residues were then determined by capillary gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection. The recoveries were 83 and 85 %, the limit of detection was 0.028 and 0.034 mg/kg, and the limits of qualification were 0.093 and 0.113 mg/kg for diazinon and oxydemeton-methyl in cucumber samples, respectively. The median of diazinon residue was detected 0.582 mg/kg, which was 11.64 times the national maximum residue limit (MRL) (0.05 mg/kg), and the median for oxydemeton-methyl was 1.910 mg/kg, being 1.91 times the MRL (1 mg/kg).

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes as matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction absorbents to determine 31 pesticides in agriculture samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction (MSPDE) method was developed to extract 31 pesticides from agriculture samples using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as adsorbent prior to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) determination. The comparisons of MWCNTs with C(18) and diatomite were studied in the MSPD procedure. The results showed that the extracts obtained by using MWCNTs were cleaner than those obtained by using C(18) and diatomite. Using the developed method, recoveries ranged from 74.2 to 104.2% with relative standard deviations (RSD) ranging from 3.1 to 8.8% for the apple matrix, and 71.5-113.3% with RSD ranging from 3.2 to 9.7% for the potato matrix. The limits of detection (LODs), calculated as 3 times the background noise, ranged from 0.1 to 3.1 microg kg(-1) for the apple matrix and 0.1 to 4.0 mug kg(-1) for the potato matrix. The proposed MSPDE method was used to analyze real samples obtained in a local market, the results were approximation to those obtained using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) method, and prometryn, isocarbophos and methidathion were detected at levels below the maximum residue limits (MRLs) allowed by the Chinese Government.

Sample preparation methods in the analysis of pesticide residues in baby food with subsequent chromatographic determination

Pesticides are widely utilized at various stages of cultivation and during postharvest storage to protect plants against a range of pests and/or to provide quality preservation. Reliable confirmatory methods are required to monitor pesticide residues in baby foods and to ensure the safety of baby food supply. This review covers methods in which pesticide residues have been determined in baby food by the use of a wide range of chromatographic techniques after various sample preparation steps. The main attention is paid to the evaluation and improvement of sample extraction and clean-up methods (liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction (SPE), dispersive SPE (DSPE), microextraction procedures, matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE)) considering low concentration levels of pesticide residues in baby food resulting from stringent European Union (EU) legislation. Instrumental aspects together with the matrix effects significantly contributing to the most important parameters considered in pesticide residues analysis of baby food--limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) were included within the scope of this overview. Paper involves also monitoring studies.

Determination of triadimenol based on the quenching effect on resonance light scattering from the triadimenol–deoxyribonucleic acid–hydrochloric acid system

Analysis of triadimenol was carried out using deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) via the resonance light scattering (RLS) technique. After adding triadimenol into aqueous medium of pH 1.72, the RLS of DNA was remarkably quenched. A resonance light scattering peak at 310 nm was found, and the quenched intensity of RLS at this wavelength was proportional to the concentration of triadimenol. The linear range of the calibration curve was approximately 0-3 microg mL-1 with a detection limit (S/N=3) of 0.07 microg mL-1. The triadimenol in samples of water, cucumber and human serum was determined. The results were satisfactory, and the recovery rates were in the range of 96.3-106.0%, 94.8-105.9% and 92.3-100.5%, respectively. The interaction mechanism was also studied.

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.

Validation and uncertainty assessment of rapid extraction and clean-up methods for the determination of 16 organochlorine pesticide residues in vegetables

Rapid and practical extraction methods were developed using dichloromethane and ethyl acetate for the routine determination of 16 organochlorine pesticide residues and applied to approximately 30 fresh vegetables (tomato, cucumber and pepper) by using GC-ECD. The procedures were validated. Measurement uncertainties were calculated by applying bottom-up approach. The average recoveries obtained for each pesticide ranged between 65 and 102% at three fortification levels. The uncertainties of the analytical methods were lower than 21 and 16% with and without recovery correction, respectively. The calculated limits of detection and quantification were typically less than 1 ng g(-1) that were much lower than the maximum residue levels.

Matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction and determination by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection of residues of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid in tomato fruit

A method based on matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) is described for the quantitative extraction of glyphosate and its major metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) from tomato fruit. After application of 120 microL of HNO3 1M to the sample, the dispersion column was packed with 0.5 g of sample blended into 1 g of NH2-silica. Two aqueous fractions were obtained. First, AMPA was eluted from the column using deionized water (F1), and then a NaH2PO4 0.005 M solution was used for the elution of glyphosate (F2). Cleanup of F1 and F2 was made by ion exchange chromatography on a SAX anion exchange silica. Determination was done by HPLC with fluorescence detection after precolumn derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethylchloroformate (FMOC-Cl). Mean recoveries calculated at fortification levels of 0.5 microg/g for glyphosate and 0.4 microg/g for AMPA were 87% and 78%, respectively. The relative standard deviations (n=7) for the total procedure were 10% and 16%. Detection limits were 0.05 microg/g for glyphosate and 0.03 microg/g for AMPA.

Determination of carbendazim residues in fruit juices by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

In this paper a rapid optimized method for routine analysis of carbendazim residues in fruit juices is reported. The procedure is based on matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) with diatomaceous earth and analysis of the extract by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, with electrospray ionization (LC-ESI-MS/MS). In the method optimization, finding of the optimal pH for the extraction of carbendazim from juice was particularly critical. Significant matrix effects were observed, but could be eliminated using matrix-matched standards. High recoveries (82-102%), good repeatability (RSD<or=12%) and low limits of detection (0.03 ng ml-1) and quantification (0.1 ng ml-1) were achieved with this method.

Simultaneous determination of thyreostatic residues in animal tissues by matrix solid-phase dispersion and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A method for determination of thyreostatic residues in animal tissues by matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in selected ion detection mode was developed. Thyreostatic compounds in different matrices were extracted and purified by combination of MSPD and subsequent solid-phase extraction. Silica gel was selected as the solid support of both procedures and the conditions of the procedures were optimized. Thyreostats were derivatized with pentafluorobenzylbromide (PFBBr) in strong basic medium and then with N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)-trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA), which can improve the yields of derivatization for thyreostats, the repeatability, and therefore the limits of detection (LOD) of thyreostats. The limits of detection reached 10 microg/kg (2-thiouracil, 6-methyl-2-thiouracil and 6-propyl-2-thiouracil), 20 microg/kg (6-phenyl-2-thiouracil) and 50 microg/kg (tapazole) with high recoveries (more than 70% for most of thyreostats) and relative standard deviations between 4.5% and 8.7%.

Use of the Keele injector for sample introduction for gas chromatographic analysis of vinclozolin in lettuces

We examined a Keele injector for sample introduction for gas chromatographic analysis of vinclozolin treated in lettuces. Samples in milligram quantity were introduced into a glass tube in a Keele injector at a gas chromatograph injection port. The glass tube was then crushed to allow the sample to carry onto a capillary column in a normal manner. The standard calibration curve for quantitative detection of vinclozolin was obtained by determining vinclozolin spiked in samples at variable concentrations. The calibration curve showed a linear response to vinclozolin ranging from 0.05 to 1.0 microg/g, giving a slope value of 174.8, the y-intercept value of -2.8146 and the mean r2-value of 0.9994. Limit of quantification for vinclozolin was 0.05 microg/g by this method, comparable to 0.01 microg/g by a normal injector. When samples treated previously with vinclozolin were determined by the Keele injector, vinclozolin was found to be about 30% lower as compared to a normal method, suggesting about 70% recovery of the spiked vinclozolin by the Keele injector. From these results, the Keele injector was suggested to be potential for sample introduction in gas chromatographic analysis of vinclozolin in lettuce samples.

Multiresidue method for determination of 90 pesticides in fresh fruits and vegetables using solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A multiresidue method for analysis of 90 pesticides with different physico-chemical properties in fruits and vegetables was developed. The method involves a rapid and small-scale extraction procedure with acetone using vortex mixing. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) on a highly cross-linked polystyrene divinylbenzene column (LiChrolut EN) was used for clean-up and pre-concentration of the pesticides from the water-diluted acetone extracts. For most fruit and vegetable samples this partial clean-up was sufficient, but some of them with more co-extracting substances need further clean-up (cereals, spinach, carrots, etc.). Diethylaminopropyl (DEA) modified silica was used for efficient removal of interferences caused by various organic acids, sugars, etc. The pesticide residues were determined by gas chromatography with a mass selective detector (GC-MS). The majority of pesticide recoveries for various fruits and vegetables were >80% in the concentration range from 0.01 to 0.50 mg/kg, except for the most polar pesticides (methamidophos, acephate, omethoate) which cannot be determined by this method. The limit of quantitation for most of the pesticides was 0.01 mg/kg with majority of relative standard deviations (R.S.D.s) below 10%.

Fast and precise determination of phenthoate and its enantiomeric ratio in soil by the matrix solid-phase dispersion method and liquid chromatography

A fast and precise method was developed for the determination of phenthoate and its enantiomeric ratio (ER) in three soil samples. A recently developed sample pretreatment technology--matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) was used to extract phenthoate simply and effectively. MSPD conditions, i.e. solid-phase Florisil amount, water content of Florisil-soil mixture, the constituent and volume of the eluting solvent, were optimized stepwise. The MSPD extract was directly used for quantitative determination of phenthoate by silica-based high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection. The recoveries of phenthoate from three different types of soils fortified at three levels of 0.1, 1, 10 microg/g ranged from 75 to 94% with RSDs of 1.5-6.5%. On this basis, phenthoate was further isolated from the remainder of MSPD extract by silica-based HPLC and then ER determined on HPLC with cellulose tris-3, 5-dimethylphenylcarbamate as chiral stationary phase. The ERs determined in the soils spiked with racemic or enantiomer-enriched phenthoate agreed sufficiently well with those in the corresponding standard solutions. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to the study of enantioselective degradation of phenthoate in the three soils under laboratory conditions. High enantioselectivity was observed in the two alkaline soils with (+)-enantiomer degrading faster than the (-)-enantiomer, while there was little to no enantioselectivity in the acidic soil. The methodology can be used to study the enantioselective environmental behavior of chiral pollutants.

Enantioseparation of vinclozolin by gamma-cyclodextrin-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography

Cyclodextrin-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography was applied to the enantioseparation of vinclozolin, which has been used as a fungicide and has an anti-androgenic activity, using gamma-cyclodextrin together with sodium dodecyl sulfate. Factors affecting the chiral resolution and migration time of vinclozolin were studied. The optimum running conditions were found to be 20 mM phosphate-5 mM borate buffer (pH 8.5) containing 50 mM gamma-cyclodextrin and 100 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate with an effective voltage of 20 kV at 20 degrees C using direct detection at 203 nm. Under these conditions, the resolution (Rs) of racemic vinclozolin was approximately 2.1. The sample was concentrated by solid-phase extraction and was fractionated by HPLC. The peak area ratio of (+)- and (-)-vinclozolins in wine was found to be 2:3, namely, not racemic, suggesting that degradation rates were different between (+)- and (-)-vinclozolins. The anti-androgenic activities of (+)- and (-)-vinclozolins on dihydrotestosterone-induced transcription were also investigated. The anti-androgenic activity of (+)-vinclozolin tended to be stronger than that of (-)-vinclozolin, suggesting the possibility that vinclozolin can act as an enantioselective anti-androgen.

Determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in biota samples using simultaneous pressurized liquid extraction and purification

In order to reduce time and cost of analysis, a new pressurised liquid extraction method that automatically and rapidly achieves quantitative and selective (i.e., lipid-free) extraction of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in biota tissues was optimized. It consists of on-line clean-up by inclusion of sorbents in the extraction cell. The freeze-dried sample is dispersed with Florisil and loaded in the extraction cell containing an extra amount of Florisil. The extraction is performed under mild conditions using 55 ml of a dichloromethane-pentane (15:85) mixture, a temperature of 40 degrees C, a static extraction time of 10 min and two extraction cycles. The Florisil retains coextracted lipids from the matrix, and the extract, after pre-concentration, is clean enough for direct injection into GC-MS and GC-electron-capture detection (ECD). Quantitative recoveries (from 90 to 106%) are obtained for both native and spiked PCB congeners in samples with a high lipidic content (up to 42% dry mass, in spoonbill eggs). The reproducibility of replicate extractions was better than 11% relative standard deviation. Method detection limits were in the ranges of 0.001-0.004 and 0.002-0.07 ng g(-1) dry mass for GC-ECD and GC-MS-MS, respectively. The method was validated using the standard reference material SRM 2974 (a mussel tissue) from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology, compared to Soxhlet and matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction methods, and used to evaluate the contamination by PCBs in bivalves from South of Spain.

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.

Matrix solid-phase dispersion

Matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) is a patented process, first reported in 1989, for conducting simultaneous disruption and extraction of solid and semi-solid samples. MSPD permits complete fractionation of the sample matrix components as well as the ability to selectively elute a single compound or several classes of compounds from the same sample. The method has been applied to the isolation of drugs in food animal tissues but has also found wide application in the analysis of herbicides, pesticides and pollutants from animal tissues, fruits, vegetables and other matrices. The present article provides a review of MSPD applications in these and related fields and discusses the factors known to affect MSPD methods. Both the practical and theoretical aspects of MSPD are also presented.

Applications of matrix solid-phase dispersion in food analysis

Matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD), a patented process for the simultaneous disruption and extraction of solid and semi-solid samples, was first reported in 1989. Since that time, MSPD has found application in numerous fields, but has proven to be particularly applicable for the analysis of drugs, pollutants, pesticides and other components in foods. The present article provides a review of these and related applications and discusses both the practical and theoretical aspects for the use of MSPD in sample processing.

Matrix solid-phase dispersion microextraction and determination by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection of pesticide residues in citrus fruit

A multiresidue method based on matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) microextraction was studied to determine the carbamate, benfuracarb, and urea insecticides, diflubenzuron, flufenoxuron hexaflumuron and hexythiazox, used in control of citrus pests. Optimisation of different parameters, such as the type of solid support for matrix dispersion, elution solvents and the clean-up step were carried out. The method used 0.5 g of orange sample, C8 bonded silica as MSPD sorbent and dichloromethane as eluting solvent. Recoveries, at spiked concentrations below the maximum residue levels established by Spanish Government, were between 74 and 84% with relative standard deviations ranging from 2 to 4%. The limits of quantification were from 0.15 to 0.25 microgram/g using high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection at 200 nm. The method may be useful as a screening protocol for the determination of these newly developed pesticides in citrus samples.

Optimization of a matrix solid-phase dispersion method with sequential clean-up for the determination of alkylphenol ethoxylates in biological tissues

A modified Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion (MSPD) method with sequential clean-up has been developed to isolate and purify alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) and alkylphenols in biological tissues. Elution profile, sequential clean-up adsorbent and experimental set up were optimized. Octadecylsilica was used as the solid-phase for matrix dispersion. Methanol was found to be the optimal eluting solvent for APEs. Aluminium oxide was quite efficient for removing the coeluting interferences. Quantitative analysis was done by reversed-phase HPLC with fluorescence detection. The optimized procedure was applied to analyze both fish and mussel samples. Average recoveries for all spiked tissue samples were greater than 90%. Typical limits of detection amount to tens of ppbs on a wet weight basis.

Supercritical fluid extraction and clean-up of organochlorine pesticides in Chinese herbal medicine

A method involving the simultaneous extraction and clean-up of 13 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) was developed using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) followed by gas chromatography-electron capture detection and mass spectrometric confirmation. The pesticides in the study consisted of alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-benzene hexachloride, heptachlor, aldrin, heptachlor epoxide, endosulfan I, 4,4'-DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethene), dieldrin, endrin, 4,4'-DDD (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane), endosulfan II, 4,4'-DDT (2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)1,1,1-trichloroethane), endrin aldehyde, and endosulfan sulfate. A series of experiments was conducted to optimize the final extraction conditions [pure CO2, 250 atm extraction pressure (1 atm = 101,325 Pa), 50 degrees C extraction temperature, 5 min static extraction time, 20 min dynamic extraction time, 2.0-g Florisil sorbent on top of 0.1-g samples, 12-ml n-hexane eluting at 1 ml/min, and a 10-ml extraction vessel]. Florisil sorbent was placed with the sample in the SFE vessel to provide a facile and effective clean-up approach. Mean recoveries of 78-121% with reproducibilities of 5-31% were obtained for the pesticides except for endosulfan II, endosulfan sulfate and endrin aldehyde. The simple and rapid method may be used to determine OCPs in CHMs routinely, and in fact, was used to analyze CHMs sold in Taiwan.