Disposable pipette extraction for the analysis of pesticides in fruit and vegetables using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Abstract

Organochlorine, organophosphate pesticides and fungicides in fruits and vegetables were analyzed using disposable pipette extraction (DPX) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-selective ion monitoring (GC/MS-SIM). The intrinsic rapid mixing capabilities of DPX result in fast and efficient extractions, and eluates are concentrated by using minimal elution solvent volumes rather than solvent evaporation methods. Matrix-matched calibrations were performed with reversed phase mechanisms (DPX-RP), and the limits of detection (LOD) were determined to be lower than 0.1 microg/mL for all targeted pesticides in carrot and orange sample matrices. Coefficients of determination (r(2)) were greater than 0.995 for most studied pesticides. DPX-RP exhibited recoveries between 72 and 116% for nonpolar and slightly polar pesticides (logP>2) with most of the recoveries over 88%. Only very polar pesticides (e.g., acephate, mathamidophos) were not extracted well using DPX-RP.