A simple method based on matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) extraction and gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (GC-ECD) is employed to determine pesticide residues in the following tropical fruits: banana, mango, melon, papaya and pineapple. In the MSPD proposed method, C18, silica gel and ethyl acetate presented the best results in the extraction, clean-up and elution steps, respectively. Spiked blank samples were used to minimize the matrix effect in the chromatographic determination. The validation process was conducted at three different concentration levels of spiked samples (0.50-2.50 µg g -1 ) in within-a-day and in among days assays. The limits of detection for the pesticides ranged from 4.0 to 23 µg kg -1 . The method showed acceptable selectivity, coefficients of correlation higher than 0.997, and recovery between 76-105%. The within-a-day precision was assessed through the relative standard deviation (2.8-19%) for the different levels of spiked samples tested.Keywords: matrix solid-phase dispersion, pesticide residues, method validation, GC-ECD
IntroductionThe recent Brazilian fruit growing jumped the country to an important position in the international agribusiness sector. In 2015, Brazil set a record in fruit exports with a total fresh fruit sales achieving US$ 735 million, a performance around US$ 100 million higher than 2014. With a variety of crops produced throughout the country and in different climates, Brazil is the leading world producer of oranges; the secondleading producer of bananas and papayas; the third-largest producer of pineapples; and an important producer of Tahiti lemons, tangerines and grapes. 1 Brazil is, after China and India, the third largest producer of fruit in the world (43 million ton per year). About 70% of Brazil's fruit exports go to Europe and the overarching goal of Brazilian fruit cultivation is to consolidate its position as the leader in the international market. Approximately 711,000 tons of the Brazilian fruits are exported to more than 110 countries being mangoes, melons, oranges, grapes, papayas, limes and bananas the main fruits exported in 2014. According to the Brazilian association of producers and exporters of fruit, the country has conditions to reach US$ 1 billion in exports of fresh fruit by 2017 if it can conform to international phytosanitary and customs conditions through better control of domestic production.
1The international market has strongly signaled that there is a movement of consumers looking for healthy food and without agrochemical residues considered to be harmful to human health. The European Community, mainly, have required that the exporters take into account the respect with the environment, traceability and working conditions, health of workers involved in food production and level of pesticide residues.The European Union and the United Kingdom banned mangoes imported from India until the country meets the phytosanitary standards that will ensure they are pest-free.
2,3The entrance of cherries from countri...