Bruker has demonstrated a new sample preparation method for analysis of pesticides in fruits and vegetables, using the EVOQ liquid chromatography mass spectrometer triple quadruple (LC-MS/MS) and SCION gas chromatography mass spectrometer triple quadruple (GC-MS/MS). A continuing challenge in multi-residue MS analysis is finding a sample preparation method that is as easy, fast and cost-efficient as possible.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has modified a QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) protocol, which can be used to extract multiple classes of pesticides from a variety of samples. Using the EVOQ and SCION, Bruker has shown the QuEChERS sample preparation protocol to be a simple, less expensive and unified alternative to the conventional technique.
The application note from Bruker explores the high sensitivity of the SCION and EVOQ, in detecting parts per billion (ppb) and sub-ppb respectively. Thirty pesticides amenable for both GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS were spiked into three extracted vegetable matrices and prepared for analysis by the EVOQ and SCION. The SCION and EVOQ demonstrated excellent sensitivity for multi-residue pesticide in various vegetable matrices.The multi-residue pesticide methods developed for the Bruker SCION and EVOQ systems showed superior sensitivity and reproducibility for the analysis of complex food matrices prepared by an FDA modified QuEChERS protocol.
Joe Anacleto, VP Market Development for Applied Markets, explained that:
The EVOQ’s exceptional sensitivity delivered by hardware developments such as the orifice interface and IQ dual ion funnel system, offers the complete pesticide testing solution.” Anacleto went on to say, “the SCION’s Axial Ion Source and Lens-Free design also ensure sustained high performance is maintained during routine, high volume, high throughput quantitative analyses, making it ideal for any lab conducting routine analyses.