Pg Shah

Evaluation of Matrix Effects in Multiresidue Analysis of Pesticide Residues in Vegetables and Spices by LC-MS/MS

The study was conducted to investigate matrix interferences using QuEChERS sample preparation to understand whether the dilution of matrix and/or the grouping of commodities can eliminate the need for selective individual matrix-matched standards in LC with tandem MS (MS/MS) analysis, and whether the calibration graph based on only one matrix can be used for quantification in the other matrixes. Matrix effects (MEs) were studied by comparing the slopes of calibration curves of the matrix-matched standards (diluted with mobile phase) vis-à-vis the solvent-based standards. The present study showed that MEs were dependent on the nature of both the commodity and the analyte. Among the test matrixes, the highest variability in ME was recorded in capsicum. Most of the pesticides showed signal suppression in tomato, capsicum, and cumin matrixes. In brinjal matrix, the signal of most of the pesticides showed slight enhancement. Due to the similar nature of the MEs in tomato and capsicum, these two commodities can be grouped together. Considering analyte variability, acetamiprid, 3-hydroxy carbofuran, dichlorvos, dimethoate, and spinosyn A and D showed no significant ME (≤20%) in tomato. Very high MEs (2360.9 and 1250.8%) were observed for quizalofop-p-tefuryl and tebuconazole, respectively. To check the effect of dilution in minimizing the ME, cucumber and brinjal matrixes were diluted 10×, and calibration curves were drawn with five concentration levels. It was found that about 60% of the total analyzed pesticides showed MEs ≤20%. In cumin, MEs ranged from -5.3% for triazophos to 661% for thiacloprid. Most of the pesticides showed recoveries in the acceptable range of 70-130% with calibration curves from both matrixes. To compensate for MEs, it is suggested that (1) tomato and capsicum matrixes, which show similar trends, can be grouped together; and (2) cucumber matrix, when diluted 10×, can be used to prepare calibration curves for the quantification of pesticides in various fruiting and cucurbit vegetable matrixes by LC-MS/MS.

Validation of a QuEChERS-based gas chromatographic method for analysis of pesticide residues in Cassia angustifolia (senna).

ABSTRACT A simple multi-residue method based on modified QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) approach was established for the determination of 17 organochlorine (OC), 15 organophosphorous (OP) and 7 synthetic pyrethroid (SP) pesticides in an economically important medicinal plant of India, Senna (Cassia angustifolia), by gas chromatography coupled to electron capture and flame thermionic detectors (GC/ECD/FTD) and confirmation of residues was done on gas chromatograph coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The developed method was validated by testing the following parameters: linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), matrix effect, accuracy–precision and measurement uncertainty; the validation study clearly demonstrated the suitability of the method for its intended application. All pesticides showed good linearity in the range 0.01–1.0 μg mL−1 for OCs and OPs and 0.05–2.5 μg mL−1 for SPs with correlation coefficients higher than 0.98. The method gave good recoveries for most of the pesticides (70–120%) with intra-day and inter-day precision < 20% in most of the cases. The limits of detection varied from 0.003 to 0.03 mg kg−1, and the LOQs were determined as 0.01-0.049 mg kg−1. The expanded uncertainties were <30%, which was distinctively less than a maximum default value of ±50%. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine pesticide residues in 12 commercial market samples obtained from different locations in India.

Correction to: Behaviour and risk assessment of fluopyram and its metabolite in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruit and in soil

Unfortunately, the original publication of this paper contains a mistake. The correct name of the 3rd Author is Sunny H. Patel. The original article has been corrected.