Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

Determination of 45 Pesticides in Avocado Varieties by the QuEChERS Method and Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Published on: December 8, 2023
The Impact of Volatile and Non-Volatile Co-Extracted Matrix Components on the Reproducible Residue Analysis of
Abd-Alrahman H Abo-Gida1, Al-Thabiani Aziz2, Muhammed Issa1
1Central Laboratory of Residue Analysis of Pesticides and Heavy Metals in Foods, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza P.O. Box 12311, Egypt.
This study optimizes pesticide residue analysis in food using novel GC-MS/MS methods. A key finding is the development of effective column cleaning and Natural Analyte Protectants (NAPs) for accurate pesticide detection.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Food Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Pesticide residue analysis in food is crucial for public health and regulatory compliance.
- Diverse food matrices present challenges in analytical performance due to co-extractives.
- Optimizing Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) is essential for accurate and reproducible results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate novel approaches for optimizing GC-MS/MS performance in pesticide residue analysis.
- To address challenges posed by non-volatile co-extractives in complex food matrices like strawberries and dry mint.
- To introduce and evaluate ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fennel extract as a Natural Analyte Protectant (NAP).
Main Methods:
- Analysis of thermally treated food extracts using GC-MS (scan mode) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).
- Development of synergistic approaches: end-column back-flushing and fennel extract (NAP) for strawberries.
- Implementation of standard forward carrier gas cleaning and sample dilution for dry mint.
Main Results:
- Strawberries and dry mint contain higher non-volatile co-extractives than fennel seeds, impacting analytical performance.
- Developed protocols enabled efficient analysis of 195 pesticides in strawberries and 154-186 pesticides in dry mint with low LOQs (0.01 mg/kg).
- High precision (RSD < 3%) and excellent recoveries (90-110%) were achieved; EtOAc fennel extract proved effective as a NAP.
Conclusions:
- Efficient column cleaning strategies (back-flushing or forward-flow) depend on the polarity of co-extractives.
- EtOAc fennel extract is a valuable NAP for samples with high polar co-extractives and low endogenous volatiles.
- Real-world sample analysis confirmed high sensitivity, with strawberries showing regulatory compliance and herbal matrices indicating a higher chemical burden.
More Related Videos
04:17Analysis of Organochlorine Pesticides in a Soil Sample by a Modified QuEChERS Approach Using Ammonium Formate
Published on: January 20, 2023
05:29Profiling Volatile Compounds in Blackcurrant Fruit using Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled to Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Published on: June 9, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS)
A gas chromatograph consists of a long, narrow capillary column with a polysiloxane coating on the inner wall. The coating...
Volatilization
Mass Spectrometry: Complex Analysis
GC–MS is a powerful hyphenated method commonly used in forensics and environmental...
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS): Interferences