Multiresidue Pesticides Analysis of Vegetables in Vietnam by Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography in Combination with High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-Orbitrap MS)

• Published in: Journal of analytical methods in chemistry 2019-01, Vol.2019 (2019), p.1-12
• Main Authors: Van Hoi, Bui, Le-Van, Dung, Phung-Thi, Lan-Anh, Vu-Thi, Hong-An, Chu, Dinh Binh, Doan-Duy, Tien, Nguyen, Lan Anh, Vu, Hai Anh, Tran, Tri Manh, Nguyen-Thi, Xuyen, Le-Minh, Thuy, Nguyen Quang, Trung, Vu-Duc, Nam, Vu, Cam-Tu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Chromatography; Deionization; Food; Formic acid; Gold; High resolution; International economic relations; Ionization; Ions; Linearity; Liquid chromatography; Mass spectrometry; Methods; Organic acids; Parameter identification; Pesticides; Recovery; Regulation; Reproducibility; Scientific equipment and supplies industry; Scientific imaging; Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; Spinosad; Surface water; Target detection; Vegetables
• ISSN: 2090-8865; 2090-8873
• DOI: 10.1155/2019/3489634

An ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography in combination with high-resolution mass spectrometry Thermo Q-Extractive Focus Orbitrap MS has been introduced for analysis of multiclass pesticides in vegetable samples collected in Hanoi, Vietnam. Multiclass pesticides were separated on the Thermo Hypersil Gold PFP column utilizing a gradient of the mobile phase consisting of 5 mM ammonium formate, 0.1% formic acid in deionized water, and methanol. The target analytes were detected in the full-scan mode on Thermo Scientific Q-Exactive Focus Orbitrap MS for quantitation at the optimum operating conditions. These conditions included, but not limit to, the resolution of 70000 at the full width at half maximum in both positive and negative mode, mass range from 80 to 1000 m/z, and optimized parameters for the heated electrospray ionization source. The identification of the analytes in real samples was based on retention times, mass to charge ratios, mass accuracies, and MS/MS spectra at the confirmation mode with the inclusion list of target analytes. The mass accuracies of target analytes were from −4.14 ppm (dinotefuran) to 1.42 ppm (cinosulfuron) in the neat solvent and from −3.91 ppm (spinosad D) to 1.29 ppm (cinosulfuron) in the matrix-matched solution. Target analytes in the vegetable-based matrix were extracted by the QuEChERS method. Some critical parameters of the analytical method such as linearity, repeatability, limit of detection, and limit of quantitation have been evaluated and implemented. Excellent LOD and LOQ of the developed method were achieved at the range of 0.04–0.85 and 0.13–2.9 μg·kg−1, respectively. Intraday and interday repeatability of the analytical signal (peak area, n=6) of the developed method were below 3% and 10%, correspondingly. The matrix effect, extraction recovery, and overall recovery were fully investigated by spiking experiments. Experimental results demonstrated that the ionization suppression or enhancement was the main contribution on the overall recoveries of target analytes. Finally, the in-house validated method was applied to pesticides screening in vegetables samples in local villages in Hanoi, Vietnam. The concentrations of all target analytes were below limit of quantitation and lower than US-FDA or EU maximum residue levels.