Head-Space SPME for the Analysis of Organophosphorus Insecticides by Novel Silica IL-Based Fibers in Real Samples

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Organophosphorus insecticides pose risks to human health and the environment.
• Accurate and sensitive detection methods are crucial for monitoring pesticide residues in food.
• Existing methods for pesticide analysis can be limited by selectivity and efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a new ionic liquid (IL)-based silica solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber.
• To determine the suitability of this fiber for analyzing seven organophosphorus insecticides.
• To apply the method for pesticide determination in real food matrices like cucumber and grapefruit.

Main Methods:

• Utilized sol-gel method to create silica matrix with immobilized ionic liquids.
• Developed four different ionogel fiber coatings using specific ILs.
• Employed headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID).
• Optimized extraction parameters using a central composite design.

Main Results:

• The new IL-based silica SPME fiber showed higher selectivity for organophosphorus insecticides compared to commercial fibers.
• Achieved low limits of detection (0.01–0.93 μg L−1) and high coefficients of determination (>0.9830).
• Demonstrated good repeatability (4.8–10.1%) in the analysis of insecticides in cucumber and grapefruit juices.

Conclusions:

• The developed ionic liquid-based silica SPME fiber is a suitable and effective tool for determining organophosphorus insecticides.
• The method provides a sensitive, selective, and repeatable approach for pesticide residue analysis in food samples.
• This advancement contributes to improved food safety and environmental monitoring.