A Rapid and Easy Multiresidue Method for the Determination of Pesticide Residues in Vegetables, Fruits, and Cereals Using Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Abstract The applicability of a rapid and easy multiresidue method for determination of pesticide residues in agricultural products by using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) was examined. Pesticide residues were extracted with acetonitrile in a disposable tube using a homogenizer, followed by salting out with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and sodium chloride. The extract was purified with a double-layered cartridge column (graphite carbon black/primary-secondary amine silica gel). After removal of the solvent, the extract was resolved in methanolwater and analyzed with LC/MS/MS. Recovery tests of 99 pesticide residues from 7 agricultural products were performed at 20 and 100 ng/g. Throughout all of the agricultural products tested, 47 pesticides exhibited satisfactory recoveries (70120) and relative standard deviations (<20) at both concentrations. The time for processing of 12 samples to test solutions was approximately 23 h. This method could be useful for determination of pesticide residues in agricultural products.