Solid phase microextraction of pesticide residues from strawberries

A new solid phase microextraction method for the determination of pesticide residues in strawberries for 16 commonly used compounds was described. The strawberries were crushed and centrifuged. An aliquot of the well agitated aqueous supernatant (4 ml) was extracted with a fibre coated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, 100 microns) for 45 min at room temperature. Identification and quantification were achieved using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) system and selective ion monitoring (SIM). The method was tested for the following pesticides: carbofuran, diethofencarb, penconazole, hexaconazole, metalaxyl, folpet, bromopropylate, dichlofluanid, alpha-endosulfan, beta-endosulfan, parathion ethyl, procymidone, iprodione, vinclozolin, myclobutanil and chlorothalonil. Limits of detection, repeatability and linearity for standard calibration in strawberries were obtained. Positive and negative effects of the matrix between the extracting solution of strawberries and water were observed. Stabilities of these compounds in the extracting solution of strawberries were determined. The solvent-free SPME procedure was found to be quicker and more cost effective than the solvent extraction methods commonly used.