Screening analysis of pesticide residues in plant foodstuffs by capillary gas chromatography using the DFG multiresidue method S19: a comparison of customory detection by ECD/NPD with the novel atomic emission detector (AED)

Abstract

Over a period of 7 months nearly 240 plant foodstuffs taken fresh from the market were analysed for pesticide residues using the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) multiresidue method (MRM) S19. The analysed foodstuffs were a representative cross-section of different fruits and vegetables offered on sale on the German market. With the slightly modified MRM S19, up to 400 pesticides and metabolites amenable to gas chromatography (GC) can be determined. The screening analysis was performed with the combination GC-electron-capture detector (ECD)/nitrogen-phosphorus detector (NPD) as well as with the combination GC-atomic emission detector (AED) in parallel. Results obtained from both screening systems agree over the whole concentration range observed. With so-called "problem foodstuffs" the combination GC-AED is clearly more suitable. Confirmation of positive results was performed by GC-mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. On account of its higher selectivity and its wide linear dynamic range down to the lowest detectable concentrations, the GC-AED system produces more reliable quantitative results compared to those obtained from the GC-ECD/NPD system.

Diphenylamine Residues in Apples Caused by Contamination in Fruit Storage Facilities

“…Golden Delicious of medium size (70–85 mm) and free of visual defects were pooled, immediately transported to the laboratory, and cut into small pieces using a cutter (Hobart model 84181D, Milano, Italy). 100 g of the fruit sample was homogenized and extracted with acetone (200 mL) using an Ultra-Turrax T25 digital mixer (IKA, Milano, Italy) for 2 min at room temperature . The extract was filtered, and an aliquot (50% of the extract) was diluted with brine (40 mL) and extracted twice with dichloromethane (70 mL each).…”

“…100 g of the fruit sample was homogenized and extracted with acetone (200 mL) using an Ultra-Turrax T25 digital mixer (IKA, Milano, Italy) for 2 min at room temperature. 20 The extract was filtered, and an aliquot (50% of the extract) was diluted with brine (40 mL) and extracted twice with dichloromethane (70 mL each). The combined organic layer was dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate, and the solvent was evaporated in vacuo after filtration.…”

Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for Quantitative Analysis in Environmental and Life Sciences: A Review of Challenges, Solutions, and Trends

“…Since almost all pesticides contain heteroatoms, element-specific detection techniques such as atomic emission detectors (AED) are often utilized for pesticide detection after capillary GC separation. [130][131][132] Its overall low sensitivity as well as its matrix susceptibility represent the main drawbacks of AED as a (hetero)element specific detector. 133 Here ICP-MS represents a powerful alternative due to its special properties.…”