Analysis of herbicides in olive oil by liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Magnetic Ionic Liquids in Sample Preparation: Recent Advances and Future Trends

In the last decades, a myriad of materials has been synthesized and utilized for the development of sample preparation procedures. The use of their magnetic analogues has gained significant attention and many procedures have been developed using magnetic materials. In this context, the benefits of a new class of magnetic ionic liquids (MILs), as non-conventional solvents, have been reaped in sample preparation procedures. MILs combine the advantageous properties of ionic liquids along with the magnetic properties, creating an unsurpassed combination. Owing to their unique nature and inherent benefits, the number of published reports on sample preparation with MILs is increasing. This fact, along with the many different types of extraction procedures that are developed, suggests that this is a promising field of research. Advances in the field are achieved both by developing new MILs with better properties (showing either stronger response to external magnetic fields or tunable extractive properties) and by developing and/or combining methods, resulting in advanced ones. In this advancing field of research, a good understanding of the existing literature is needed. This review aims to provide a literature update on the current trends of MILs in different modes of sample preparation, along with the current limitations and the prospects of the field. The use of MILs in dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction, single drop microextraction, matrix solid-phase dispersion, etc., is discussed herein among others.

Microwave absorption medium-assisted extraction coupled with reversed-phase dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction of triazine herbicides in corn and soybean samples

A new extraction method, microwave absorption medium-assisted extraction coupled with reversed-phase dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction, was developed for the determination of triazine herbicides in corn and soybean samples. Triazine herbicides were extracted with hexane and then directly enriched into the ionic liquid phase. The purification of sample and concentration of target analytes were performed simultaneously. The method combines the advantages of nonpolar solvent dynamic microwave extraction and reversed-phase dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction, which could greatly simplify the operation and reduce the whole pretreatment time. The Box-Behnken design was used to the optimization of experimental factors involved in the dynamic microwave-assisted extraction. In the present study, good linearity in the range of 5.00-500.00 µg/kg was obtained. The limits of detection and quantification varying from 1.3 to 4.2 and 4.1 to 13.9 µg/kg were achieved, respectively. The intra- and interday precisions were between 2.7 and 6.9%. The present method was applied to the analysis of corn and soybean samples, and the recoveries of analytes ranged from 80.7 to 106.9% with the relative standard deviations of 2.1-7.8%. The present method shows the potentials of practical applications in the treatment of the complex fatty solid samples.

Vortex-assisted deep eutectic solvent reversed-phase liquid-liquid microextraction of triazine herbicides in edible vegetable oils

In this study, four triazine herbicides-namely, simazine, ametryn, prometryn and terbuthylazine-were separated and determined using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UVD). The deep eutectic solvent (DES) formed by tetrabutylammonium chloride ([N₄₄₄₄]Cl, TBA) and ethylene glycol (EG) was selected as the extraction solvent of vortex-assisted reversed-phase liquid-liquid microextraction (VA-RPLLME). The application of the hydrophilic DES expands the range of choice for LLME. The experimental parameters affecting the extraction recoveries, including the amount of the DES, the sample volume and the vortex time, were investigated and optimized by the design of experiments (DoE) methodology. A quadratic model, namely central composite face-centered (CCF) design featuring 20 runs was used instead of the conventional trial and error approach. Under optimum conditions, the limits of determination (LODs) of the method were 0.60-1.50 μg L^-1. The enrichment factors for the analytes ranged from 27 to 31. The extraction recoveries were in the range of 84.1-104.9%, and the intra-day, inter-day and intermediate relative standard deviations (RSDs) were less than 8.4%. Finally, the method was applied for the determination of triazine herbicides in vegetable oil samples. The obtained recoveries were in the range of 60.1-107.2% and RSDs were lower than 8.1%. In general, VA-RPLLME can be complementary to the present available methods for the determination of triazine herbicides in vegetable oil samples.

Residue investigation of some phenylureas and tebuthiuron herbicides in vegetables by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with integrated selective accelerated solvent extraction-clean up in situ

BACKGROUND

Some trace amounts of urea herbicide residues can be transferred to humans via the food chain, thereby being potentially harmful to human health. The development of a robust analytical methodology for effective sample preparation and simultaneous determination of herbicide residues in vegetable samples is required for achieving food safety.

RESULTS

The diuron-molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) synthesized have excellent affinity and high selectivity to phenylureas (monolinuron, isoproturon, diuron and linuron) and tebuthiuron. A novel automated procedure with better selectivity for vegetable sample treatment was developed by integrated matrix solid-phase dispersion-accelerated solvent extraction clean-up in situ. Five herbicides can be baseline separated with runtime down to 5 min by ultra-performance liquid chromatography, and good linearity was obtained with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.9999. The limit of quantification of the method was in the range of 0.8-2.3 µg kg^-1 . Diuron residue in cherry tomato sample was found to be 40 µg kg^-1 .

CONCLUSION

The developed method has satisfactory selectivity, good linearity, high sensitivity and accuracy as well as speediness, and can ensure rapid selective extraction and sensitive multi-residue analysis at low microgram per kilogram levels of the herbicides in vegetable food. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dynamic microwave assisted extraction coupled with dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction of herbicides in soybeans

Non-polar solvent dynamic microwave assisted extraction was firstly applied to the treatment of high-fat soybean samples. In the dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction (D-µ-SPE), the herbicides in the high-fat extract were directly adsorbed on metal-organic frameworks MIL-101(Cr). The effects of several experimental parameters, including extraction solvent, microwave absorption medium, microwave power, volume and flow rate of extraction solvent, amount of MIL-101(Cr), and D-µ-SPE time, were investigated. At the optimal conditions, the limits of detection for the herbicides ranged from 1.56 to 2.00 μg kg(-1). The relative recoveries of the herbicides were in the range of 91.1-106.7%, and relative standard deviations were equal to or lower than 6.7%. The present method was simple, rapid and effective. A large amount of fat was also removed. This method was demonstrated to be suitable for treatment of high-fat samples.

Matrix solid-phase dispersion coupled with magnetic ionic liquid dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the determination of triazine herbicides in oilseeds

A novel method was developed for the determination of six triazine herbicides from oilseeds by matrix solid-phase dispersion combined with magnetic ionic liquid dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (MSPD-MIL-DLLME), followed by ultrafast liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (UFLC-UV). The MIL, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroferrate ([C4mim][FeCl4]), was used as the microextraction solvent to simplify the extraction procedure by magnetic separation. The effects of several important experimental parameters, including type of dispersant, ratio of sample to dispersant, type and volume of collected elution solvent, type and volume of MIL, were investigated. Using the present method, UFLC-UV gave the limits of detection (LODs) of 1.20-2.72 ng g(-1) and the limits of quantification (LOQs) of 3.99-9.06 ng g(-1) for triazine herbicides. The recoveries were ranged from 82.9 to 113.7% and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were equal or lower than 7.7%. The present method is easy-to-use and effective for extraction of triazine herbicides from oilseeds and shows the potentials of practical applications in the treatment of the fatty solid samples.

Dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction of herbicides in vegetable oil with metal-organic framework MIL-101

Dispersive microsolid-phase extraction based on metal-organic framework has been developed and applied to the extraction of triazine and phenylurea herbicides in vegetable oils in this work. The herbicides were directly extracted with MIL-101 from diluted vegetables oils without any further cleanup. The separation and determination of herbicides were carried out on high performance liquid chromatography. The effects of experimental parameters, including volume ratio of n-hexane to oil sample, mass of MIL-101, extraction time, centrifugation time, eluting solvent, and elution time were investigated. The Student's t test was applied to evaluate the selected experimental conditions. The limits of detection for the herbicides ranged from 0.585 to 1.04 μg/L. The recoveries of the herbicides ranged from 87.3 to 107%. Our results showed that the present method is rapid, simple, and effective for extracting herbicides in vegetable oils.

Agent orange herbicides, organophosphate and triazinic pesticides analysis in olive oil and industrial oil mill waste effluents using new organic phase immunosensors

New immunosensors working in organic solvent mixtures (OPIEs) for the analysis of traces of different pesticides (triazinic, organophosphates and chlorurates) present in hydrophobic matrices such as olive oil were developed and tested. A Clark electrode was used as transducer and peroxidase enzyme as marker. The competitive process took place in a chloroform-hexane 50% (V/V) mixture, while the subsequent enzymatic final measurement was performed in decane and using tert-butylhydroperoxide as substrate of the enzymatic reaction. A linear response of between about 10nM and 5.0μM was usually obtained in the presence of olive oil. Recovery tests were carried out in commercial or artisanal extra virgin olive oil. Traces of pesticides were also checked in the oily matrix, in pomace and mill wastewaters from an industrial oil mill. Immunosensors show good selectivity and satisfactory precision and recovery tests performed in olive oil gave excellent results.

Liquid-Liquid Extraction/Low-Temperature Purification (LLE/LTP) Followed by Dispersive Solid-Phase Extraction (d-SPE) Cleanup for Multiresidue Analysis in Palm Oil by LC-QTOF-MS

An evaluation of the extraction of multiresidue pesticides from palm oil by liquid-liquid extraction/low-temperature purification (LLE/LTP) coupled with dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) as the cleanup procedure with the determination by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry using electrospray as the ionization source (LC-ESI-MS) was carried out. Optimization approaches were studied in terms of d-SPE to select efficiency of type and mass of adsorbents to obtain the highest recovery yield of pesticides and the lowest coextract fat residues in the final extract. The optimal conditions of d-SPE were obtained using 3 g of palm oil, 4 g anhydrous MgSO4, 150 mg of PSA, and 50 mg of GCB (PSA: GCB (3 : 1 w/w)). Recovery study was performed at three concentration levels (25, 50, and 100 ng kg−1), yielding recovery rates between 71.8 and 112.4% except diuron with relative standard deviations of 3.2–15.1%. Detection and quantification limits were lower than 2.7 and 8.2 ng kg−1, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of market-purchased palm oil samples from two different brands collected in Kuala Lumpur, showing its potential applicability and revealing the presence of some of the target species in the ng g−1range.

Strategies for the multi-residue analysis of 100 pesticides by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

Analytical strategies for screening, quantitation and confirmation of a group of 100 pesticides in fruit and vegetable samples by LC-MS and LC-MS/MS were developed. The pesticides studied belong to different chemical families of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. A selection of some degradation products was also included. Chromatographic separation was performed using a Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C8 column (150 mm × 4.6 mm and 5 μm particle size), and gradient elution with acetonitrile-water (both with 0.1% formic acid) as mobile phase. LC-MS/MS using highly-selective selected reaction monitoring (H-SRM) acquisition mode monitoring two transitions for each compound showed to be the most sensitive methodology. Quantitation was carried out using matrix-matched standard calibration and good linearity of response was demonstrated (r>0.998). Limits of detection (by acquiring two transitions and with the ion-ratio requirements) ranged between 0.01 and 20 μg/kg were obtained. So, in general, the sensitivity achieved meets the maximum residue levels (MRLs) established by the European Union regulation for food monitoring programs. Pesticide confirmation was carried out following European Union guidelines. In order to prevent false-positives, further confirmatory strategies were proposed. LC-MS in highly-selective selected ion monitoring (H-SIM) mode with accurate mass measurement was used to obtain an orthogonal criterion (exact mass) for confirmation. Accurate mass measurements were always bellow 0.9 mDa for almost all pesticides studied (similar to those described with TOF instruments). A user reversed energy ramp (RER) product ion scan spectra library was generated by means of a data dependent analysis for routine library searching of pesticides. The combination of LC-MS/MS in H-SRM mode and the generation of the RER product ion scan spectra and library search were then used to achieve further confirmation on pesticide analysis. The LC-MS and LC-MS/MS strategies developed were successfully applied for the analysis and confirmation of pesticides in different types of fruit and vegetables samples, and examples of the screening, quantitation and confirmation of pesticides in these samples are shown in this work.

Current mass spectrometry strategies for the analysis of pesticides and their metabolites in food and water matrices

Analysis of pesticides and their metabolites in food and water matrices continues to be an active research area closely related to food safety and environmental issues. This review discusses the most widely applied mass spectrometric (MS) approaches to pesticide residues analysis over the last few years. The main techniques for sample preparation remain solvent extraction and solid-phase extraction. The QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, Safe) approach is being increasingly used for the development of multi-class pesticide residues methods in various sample matrices. MS detectors-triple quadrupole (QqQ), ion-trap (IT), quadrupole linear ion trap (QqLIT), time-of-flight (TOF), and quadrupole time-of-flight (QqTOF)-have been established as powerful analytical tools sharing a primary role in the detection/quantification and/or identification/confirmation of pesticides and their metabolites. Recent developments in analytical instrumentation have enabled coupling of ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and fast gas chromatography (GC) with MS detectors, and faster analysis for a greater number of pesticides. The newly developed "ambient-ionization" MS techniques (e.g., desorption electrospray ionization, DESI, and direct analysis in real time, DART) hyphenated with high-resolution MS platforms without liquid chromatography separation, and sometimes with minimum pre-treatment, have shown potential for pesticide residue screening. The recently introduced Orbitrap mass spectrometers can provide high resolving power and mass accuracy, to tackle complex analytical problems involved in pesticide residue analysis.

Low temperature followed by matrix solid-phase dispersion-sonication procedure for the determination of multiclass pesticides in palm oil using LC-TOF-MS

A simple and effective multiresidue method based on precipitation at low temperature followed by matrix solid-phase dispersion-sonication was developed and validated to determine dimethoate, malathion, carbaryl, simazine, terbuthylazine, atrazine and diuron in palm oil using liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS). Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) followed by low temperature method were optimized by studying the effect of type and volume of organic solvent (acetonitrile, acetonitrile:n-hexane (3:2 v/v) and acetone) and time of freezing to obtain high recovery yield and low co-extract fat residue in the final extract. The optimal conditions for matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) were obtained using 5 g of palm oil, 2 g of primary secondary amine (PSA) as dispersing sorbent, 1 g of graphitized carbon black (GCB) as clean-up sorbent and 15 mL of acetonitrile as eluting solvent under conditions of 15 min ultrasonication at room temperature. Method validation was performed in order to study sensitivity, linearity, precision, and accuracy. Average recoveries at three concentration levels (25, 50 and 100 μg kg(-1)) were found in the range of 72.6-91.3% with relative standard deviations between 5.3% and 14.2%. Detection and quantification limits ranged from 1.5 to 5 μg kg(-1) and from 2.5 to 9 μg kg(-1), respectively.

Multiresidue method for pesticides and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in milk and cream using comprehensive two-dimensional capillary gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A method for the analysis of pesticides and their metabolites including most of the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in milk and cream is described. The method was single-laboratory validated through milk fortification in quadruplicate with 34 pesticides, isomers, and metabolites including 12 of the insecticide POPs and their metabolites. Whole cow's milk was fortified at 0.2, 0.4, 1, 2, 10, or 50 microg/kg wet weight and extracted with acetone/cyclohexane/ethyl acetate (2:1:1) with the addition of Mg(2)SO(4) and NaCl. Fat recovered in the extract accurately reflected the fat content of the milk or cream. All test portions were purified on a gel permeation chromatograph (GPC) followed by solid phase extraction (SPE) cleanup on a mixed bed graphitized carbon black (GCB) and primary/secondary amine silica gel (PSA) column before determination using a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatograph interfaced to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Average recoveries were 77, 72, 73, 66, 77, and 84% for 0.2, 0.4, 1, 2, 10, and 50 microg/kg wet weight whole milk, respectively. The average relative standard deviations for 0.2, 0.4, 1, 2, 10, and 50 microg/kg were 10, 8, 7, 7, 3, and 3%, respectively. The limits of quantification (LOQs) for all pesticides were 0.2 or 0.4 microg/kg wet weight. An archived cream sample collected in 1982 on Oahu, Hawaii, was found to contain only hepatachlor epoxide (HE) and DDE-p,p' at 380 +/- 24 and 69 +/- 17 microg/kg fat, significantly elevated over the current action level of 50 microg/kg fat for HE.

Analysis of forchlorfenuron in vegetables by LC/TOF-MS after extraction with the buffered QuEChERS method

This paper describes the application of liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/TOF-MS), with electrospray ionization, for residue analysis of forchlorfenuron in tomato, zucchini and watermelon. The assessed method includes a sample preparation step based on the buffered QuEChERS approach. The TOF-MS fragmentation pattern of forchlorfenuron was studied at different fragmention voltages in the range of 120-270 V. Analyses were carried out under full-scan conditions by using the extracted ion chromatogram (XIC) of the m/z 248 ion with a 0.2 Da window. The linearity of the analytical response across the studied range of concentrations (10-500 microg/kg) was excellent, obtaining correlation coefficients higher than 0.999, and relative standard deviations of the response factors lower than 14%, for the 15 linear calibration curves of forchlorfenuron evaluated along the complete validation study. No significant matrix effects were observed. The signal-to-noise ratios obtained for the 10 microg/kg forchlorfenuron in matrix matched standards were >70 for all three matrices. Recovery studies were carried out on spiked tomato, zucchini and watermelon blank samples, at three concentration levels (10, 50, and 200 microg/kg) performing five replicates at each level. Forchlorfenuron mean recoveries ranged between 80% and 87% in watermelon and zucchini, and between 65% and 71% in tomato, obtaining in all cases relative standard deviation values lower than 10%. The method readily achieved a lowest validated level of 10 microg/kg, which was fit-for-purpose in residue monitoring applications.

Application of high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry with a quadrupole/linear ion trap instrument for the analysis of pesticide residues in olive oil

This article describes the development of an enhanced liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for the analysis of pesticides in olive oil. One hundred pesticides belonging to different classes and that are currently used in agriculture have been included in this method. The LC-MS method was developed using a hybrid quadrupole/linear ion trap (QqQ(LIT)) analyzer. Key features of this technique are the rapid scan acquisition times, high specificity and high sensitivity it enables when the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode or the linear ion-trap operational mode is employed. The application of 5 ms dwell times using a linearly accelerating (LINAC) high-pressure collision cell enabled the analysis of a high number of pesticides, with enough data points acquired for optimal peak definition in MRM operation mode and for satisfactory quantitative determinations to be made. The method quantifies over a linear dynamic range of LOQs (0.03-10 microg kg(-1)) up to 500 microg kg(-1). Matrix effects were evaluated by comparing the slopes of matrix-matched and solvent-based calibration curves. Weak suppression or enhancement of signals was observed (<15% for most-80-of the pesticides). A study to assess the identification criteria based on the MRM ratio was carried out by comparing the variations observed in standard vs matrix (in terms of coefficient of variation, CV%) and within the linear range of concentrations studied. The CV was lower than 15% when the response observed in solvent was compared to that in olive oil. The limit of detection was < or =10 microg kg(-1) for five of the selected pesticides, < or =5 microg kg(-1) for 14, and < or =1 microg kg(-1) for 81 pesticides. For pesticides where additional structural information was necessary for confirmatory purposes-in particular at low concentrations, since the second transition could not be detected-survey scans for enhanced product ion (EPI) and MS3 were developed.

Quantitative liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Over the last decade, time-of-flight (TOF) instruments have increasingly been used as quantitation tools. In addition, because of their high resolving power, they can be used for verification of empirical formulas. Historically, TOF instruments have had limited quantitation capabilities because of their narrow dynamic range. However, recent advances have improved these limitations. This review covers the rationale for using TOF for LC detection, and describes the many methods currently in the literature for the quantitation of pharmaceuticals, environmental pollutants, explosives and many phytochemicals.