Determination of 45 Pesticides in Avocado Varieties by the QuEChERS Method and Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Summary

The present protocol describes the analysis of multiclass pesticide residues in avocado varieties using the Quick-Easy-Cheap-Effective-Rugged-Safe (QuEChERS) method with ammonium formate, followed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Abstract

Gas chromatography (GC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) stands as a preeminent analytical instrument extensively employed for the surveillance of pesticide residues in food. Nevertheless, these methods are vulnerable to matrix effects (MEs), which can potentially affect accurate quantification depending on the specific combination of analyte and matrix. Among the various strategies to mitigate MEs, matrix-matched calibration represents the prevailing approach in pesticide residue applications due to its cost-effectiveness and straightforward implementation. In this study, a total of 45 representative pesticides were analyzed in three different varieties of avocado (i.e., Criollo, Hass, and Lorena) using the Quick-Easy-Cheap-Effective-Rugged-Safe (QuEChERS) method with ammonium formate and GC-MS/MS.

For this purpose, 5 g of the avocado sample was extracted with 10 mL of acetonitrile, and then 2.5 g of ammonium formate was added to induce phase separation. Subsequently, the supernatant underwent a cleanup process via dispersive solid-phase extraction employing 150 mg of anhydrous MgSO₄, 50 mg of primary-secondary amine, 50 mg of octadecylsilane, 10 mg of graphitized carbon black, and 60 mg of a zirconium oxide-based sorbent (Z-Sep+). The GC-MS/MS analysis was successfully performed in less than 25 min. Rigorous validation experiments were carried out to assess the performance of the method. The examination of a matrix-matched calibration curve for each variety of avocado revealed that the ME remained relatively consistent and less than 20% (considered as a soft ME) for most pesticide/variety combinations. Furthermore, the method´s limits of quantification were lower than 5 µg/kg for all three varieties. Finally, the recovery values for most pesticides fell within the acceptable range of 70-120%, with relative standard deviation values below 20%.

Introduction

In chemical analysis, the matrix effect (ME) can be defined in various ways, but a widely accepted general definition is as follows: it refers to the change in the signal, particularly a change in the slope of the calibration curve when the sample matrix or portion of it is present during the analysis of a specific analyte. As a critical aspect, ME necessitates thorough investigation during the validation process of any analytical method, as it directly affects the accuracy of quantitative measurement for the target analytes¹. Ideally, a sample pretreatment procedure should be selective enough to avoid extracting any components from the sample ....

Protocol

1. Preparation of the stock and working solutions

NOTE: For safety reasons, it is advisable to wear nitrile gloves, a laboratory coat, and safety glasses throughout the protocol.

1. Prepare individual stock solutions of each of the 45 commercial pesticide standards (see Table of Materials) at approximately 1,000 mg/L in acetonitrile in 10 mL volumetric flasks.
2. Combine the above individual stock solutions to prepare a 400 mg/L stock solution .......

Discussion

The primary limitation associated with matrix-matched calibration arises from the use of blank samples as calibration standards. This leads to an augmented number of samples to be processed for analysis and an increased injection of matrix components in each analytical sequence, potentially leading to higher instrument maintenance demands. Nonetheless, this strategy is more suitable than standard addition, which would generate a much larger number of samples to be injected due to the need to perform a calibration curve f.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
3-Ethoxy-1,2-propanediol	Sigma Aldrich	260428-1G
Acetonitrile	Merk	1006652500
Ammonium formate	Sigma Aldrich	156264-1KG
AOAC 20i/s autosampler	Shimadzu	221-723115-58
Automatic shaker MX-T6-PRO	SCILOGEX	8.23222E+11
Balance	OHAUS	PA224
Centrifuge tubes, 15 mL	Nest	601002
Centrifuge tubes, 2 mL	Eppendorf	4610-1815
Centrifuge tubes, 50 mL	Nest	602002
Centrifuge Z206A	MERMLE	6019500118
Choper 2L	Oster	2114111
Column SH-Rxi-5sil MS, 30 m x 0.25 mm, 0.25 µm	Shimadzu	221-75954-30	MS GC column
Dispensette 5-50 mL	BRAND	4600361
DSC-18	Sigma Aldrich	52600-U
D-Sorbitol	Sigma Aldrich	240850-5G
Ethyl acetate	Merk	1313181212
GCMS-TQ8040	Shimadzu	211552
Graphitized carbon black	Sigma Aldrich	57210-U
Injection syringe	Shimadzu	LC2213461800
L-Gulonic acid γ-lactone	Sigma Aldrich	310301-5G
Linner splitless	Shimadzu	221-4887-02
Magnesium sulfate anhydrus	Sigma Aldrich	M7506-2KG
Methanol	Panreac	131091.12.12
Milli-Q ultrapure (type 1) water	Millipore	F4H4783518
Pipette tips 10 - 100 µL	Biologix	200010
Pipette tips 100 - 1000 µL	Brand	541287
Pipette tips 20 - 200 µL	Brand	732028
Pipettes Pasteur	NORMAX	5426023
Pippette Transferpette S variabel 10 - 100 µL	BRAND	704774
Pippette Transferpette S variabel 100 - 1000 µL	BRAND	704780
Pippette Transferpette S variabel 20 - 200 µL	SCILOGEX	7.12111E+11
Primary-secondary amine	Sigma Aldrich	52738-U
Shikimic acid	Sigma Aldrich	S5375-1G
Syringe Filter PTFE/L 25 mm, 0.45 µm	NORMAX	FE2545I
Triphenyl phosphate (QC)	Sigma Aldrich	241288-50G
Vials with fused-in insert	Sigma Aldrich	29398-U
Z-SEP+	Sigma Aldrich	55299-U	zirconium oxide-based sorbent
Pesticides			CAS registry number
4,4´-DDD	Sigma Aldrich	35486-250MG	72-54-8
4,4´-DDE	Sigma Aldrich	35487-100MG	72-55-9
4,4´-DDT	Sigma Aldrich	31041-100MG	50-29-3
Alachlor	Sigma Aldrich	45316-250MG	15972-60-8
Aldrin	Sigma Aldrich	36666-25MG	309-00-2
Atrazine	Sigma Aldrich	45330-250MG-R	1912-24-9
Atrazine-d5 (IS)	Sigma Aldrich	34053-10MG-R	163165-75-1
Buprofezin	Sigma Aldrich	37886-100MG	69327-76-0
Carbofuran	Sigma Aldrich	32056-250-MG	1563-66-2
Chlorpropham	Sigma Aldrich	45393-250MG	101-21-3
Chlorpyrifos	Sigma Aldrich	45395-100MG	2921-88-2
Chlorpyrifos-methyl	Sigma Aldrich	45396-250MG	5598-13-0
Deltamethrin	Sigma Aldrich	45423-250MG	52918-63-5
Dichloran	Sigma Aldrich	45435-250MG	99-30-9
Dichlorvos	Sigma Aldrich	45441-250MG	62-73-7
Dieldrin	Sigma Aldrich	33491-100MG-R	60-57-1
Diphenylamine	Sigma Aldrich	45456-250MG	122-39--4
Endosulfan A	Sigma Aldrich	32015-250MG	115-29-7
Endrin	Sigma Aldrich	32014-250MG	72-20-8
EPN	Sigma Aldrich	36503-100MG	2104-64-5
Esfenvalerate	Sigma Aldrich	46277-100MG	66230-04-4
Ethion	Sigma Aldrich	45477-250MG	563-12-2
Fenamiphos	Sigma Aldrich	45483-250MG	22224-92-6
Fenitrothion	Sigma Aldrich	45487-250MG	122-14-5
Fenthion	Sigma Aldrich	36552-250MG	55-38-9
Fenvalerate	Sigma Aldrich	45495-250MG	51630-58-1
HCB	Sigma Aldrich	45522-250MG	118-74-1
Iprodione	Sigma Aldrich	36132-100MG	36734-19-7
Lindane	Sigma Aldrich	45548-250MG	58-89-9
Malathion	Sigma Aldrich	36143-100MG	121-75-5
Metalaxyl	Sigma Aldrich	32012-100MG	57837-19-1
Methidathion	Sigma Aldrich	36158-100MG	950-37-8
Myclobutanil	Sigma Aldrich	34360-100MG	88671-89-0
Oxyfluorfen	Sigma Aldrich	35031-100MG	42874-03-3
Parathion-methyl	Sigma Aldrich	36187-100MG	298-00-0
Penconazol	Sigma Aldrich	36189-100MG	66246-88-6
Pirimiphos-methyl	Sigma Aldrich	32058-250MG	29232-93-7
Propiconazole	Sigma Aldrich	45642-250MG	60207-90-1
Propoxur	Sigma Aldrich	45644-250MG	114-26-1
Propyzamide	Sigma Aldrich	45645-250MG	23850-58-5
Pyriproxifen	Sigma Aldrich	34174-100MG	95737-68-1
Tolclofos-methyl	Sigma Aldrich	31209-250MG	5701804-9
Triadimefon	Sigma Aldrich	45693-250MG	43121-43-3
Triflumizole	Sigma Aldrich	32611-100MG	68694-11-1
α-HCH	Sigma Aldrich	33377-50MG	319-86-8
β-HCH	Sigma Aldrich	33376-100MG	319-85-7