Validation of the QuEChERSER Method for 245 Pesticides and Environmental Contaminants in Barley and Hemp by Low-Pressure GC: Comparison of Triple Quadrupole MS/MS and Orbitrap HRMS for Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis

• Published in: Journal of AOAC International 2024-11
• Main Authors: Michlig, Nicolás, Lehotay, Steven J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1060-3271; 1944-7922; 1944-7922
• DOI: 10.1093/jaoacint/qsae093

Monitoring labs are a fundamental link in the food safety chain, and regulatory demands in a competitive economy call for analytical methods that are simpler, faster, more rugged, and broader in scope. The QuEChERSER mega-method introduced in 2021 meets these monitoring needs, which includes high sample throughput, automated cleanup of extracts, and fast low-pressure gas chromatography (LPGC). The goal of this work was to extend the QuEChERSER method to additional matrices and more analytes using LPGC, including comparison of the analytical performances of two different mass spectrometric (MS) analyzers: triple quadrupole tandem MS/MS and orbital ion trap (orbitrap) high-resolution (HR)MS. The QuEChERSER mega-method was validated for 245 pesticides and environmental contaminants in barley grains and hemp pellets using automated instrument top sample preparation (ITSP) coupled with LPGC-MS/MS or LPGC-HRMS (orbitrap). Targeted MS/MS detection proved to be more sensitive than orbitrap using full data acquisition, leading to lower limits of quantification (LOQs) with more analytes yielding acceptable recoveries (70-120%) and repeatabilities (RSDs