Determination of Highly Polar and Ionic Pesticides in Grape and Pomegranate Using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass...

Residues of polar pesticides cannot be determined by QuEChERS-based multiresidue extractions because of their non-amenability to reverse-phase chromatographic separation and poor recoveries. On the other hand, single-residue methods pose limitations because of the various requirements of sample preparation and LC-MS/MS conditions. A new multiresidue method is thus warranted for rapid and simultaneous analysis of polar pesticides.

The study developed a multiresidue method for the simultaneous analysis of glyphosate and its metabolite (aminomethylphosphonic acid, AMPA), glufosinate and its metabolites (3-methylphosphinicopropionic acid and N-acetyl-glufosinate), ethephon, fosetyl-aluminum and its metabolite (phosphonic acid), and trimesium in grape and pomegranate by LC-MS/MS.

The homogenized samples (10 g) were extracted with acidified methanol (20 mL). An aliquot of the extract was diluted with acetonitrile (1 + 1) and measured by LC-MS/MS using a Torus DEA column. The performance of a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) column and an "anionic polar pesticides" (APP) column was also evaluated.

The method performance on the Torus DEA column was satisfactory for all compounds (recoveries = 77-104%, repeatability-RSD, <11%) at limit of quantification (LOQ) (0.01 mg/kg), and with higher levels in grape and pomegranate. The only exception was AMPA, which had an LOQ of 0.05 mg/kg. In the APP column, AMPA could be determined with an LOQ of 0.01 mg/kg. Trimesium, which had poor retention in Torus DEA, performed better in an XBridge HILIC column (retention time = 4.2 min, LOQ = 0.01 mg/kg). The inter-laboratory validation experiment yielded comparable results with high accuracy and precision.

The method could screen the residues of all compounds on a Torus DEA column. For AMPA and trimesium, the APP and XBridge HILIC columns provided superior method performances. Since isotopically labeled internal standards were not required, the method appeared cost-effective. Considering its compliance with the SANTE/12682/2019 validation guidelines and EU-MRLs, the method can be recommended for regulatory testing purposes.

A high-throughput residue analysis method targeting nine polar and ionic compounds in grape and pomegranate involved a single multiresidue extraction, followed by direct analysis using LC-MS/MS. A satisfactory method performance was achieved through intra- and inter-laboratory validation. The method sensitivity met the EU-MRLs and the SANTE/12682/2019 analytical quality control criteria.