Optimization of a modified QuEChERS method by an n-octadecylamine-functionalized magnetic carbon nanotube porous nanocomposite for the quantification of pesticides

• Published in: Journal of food composition and analysis 2021-09, Vol.102, p.103980, Article 103980
• Main Authors: Yuan, Caixia, Li, Ruicen, Wu, Lihua, Hong, Xia, He, Haining, Yang, Guangrui, Wang, Lu, You, Yina, Liu, Hailong, Chai, Zonglong, Lu, Xiaoquan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Magnetic carbon nanotube; Modified QuEChERS method; n-octadecylamine; Pesticides
• ISSN: 0889-1575; 1096-0481
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2021.103980

•The structure of n-octadecylamine is similar to functional groups of PSA and C18.•This novel modified QuEChERS method showed great adsorptive ability.•The M-CNT/ODA nanocomposite can easily separate from the acetonitrile solution. In this work, the adoption of n-octadecylamine (ODA) functionalized magnetic carbon nanotube porous nanocomposite (M-CNTs/ODA) as cleanup agents for a modified QuEChERS method to detect pesticide residues was investigated for the first time. The properties and morphology of the M-CNTs/ODA were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer and X-ray diffraction. The results confirmed that M-CNTs/ODA had an excellent ability to remove matrix interferences and reduce matrix effects compared with traditional cleanup agents. The recoveries ranged from 81.3%–96.1%, the relative standard deviations (RSDs) varied from 1.98% to 6.89% (n = 3), the limits of detection (S/N = 3) of the method for the compounds were between 0.009−0.050 mg/L in real samples. Satisfactory results were also obtained for the detection of 16 pesticides in vegetables and fruits. As a promising cleanup material, the porous M-CNTs/ODA has future application potential in detecting other organic pollutants in different samples.