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Avocado Sample Preparation Using the QuEChERS Method with Ammonium Formate for Pesticide Analysis
Published on: December 8, 2023
Determination of twelve neonicotinoid pesticides in chili using an improved QuEChERS method with UPLC-Q-TOF/MS
Wenhua Zhang1, Chunjie Zhou2, Fenglan Zhou1
1College of Food Science, Southwest University, No. 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, PR China; China-Hungary Cooperative Centre for Food Science, Chongqing 400715, PR China; Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-products on Storage and Preservation (Chongqing), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Chongqing 400715, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Specialty Food Co-built by Sichuan and Chongqing, Chongqing 400715, PR China.
Abstract:
In this study, a QuEChERS method based on citrate was developed and utilized for the analysis of twelve neonicotinoid pesticides in fresh red chilies, fresh green chilies, and dried chilies, coupled with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS). In the sample preparation, acetonitrile containing 1% formic acid was used as the extraction solvent. Anhydrous sodium sulfate replaced the traditional anhydrous magnesium sulfate for water removal, effectively eliminating the issues of salt caking. Graphitized carbon black, octadecyl silica, and primary secondary amine were used as cleaning agents. The method showed good sensitivity, with the limits of quantification below 0.03 mg/kg for fresh chilies and below 0.15 mg/kg for dried chilies. Values of matrix effects ranged from -19.5% to 8.4%, and the recovery was 86.9% - 105.2%. The analytical method provided an effective tool for the high throughput detection of neonicotinoid pesticide residues in multiple chili matrices.
