LC-MS/MS is a powerful analytical tool capable of screening samples for numerous compounds. MRM is typically used because of its excellent sensitivity, selectivity, and speed. Using QuEChERS for extraction, eXtreme|FV®s for clean-up, and UHPLC combined with coreshell particles columns provides good resolution and excellent peak shape, making it possible to detect hundreds of pesticides of a wide variety of compound classes and chemical properties in each sample. The new AB SCIEX Triple Quad™ 3500 with a Turbo V™ source and Curtain Gas™ interface supplies exceptional robustness and ruggedness. The advanced eQ™ electronics and the curved LINAC® collision cell were designed for unparalleled speed of MRM detection and fast polarity switching for comprehensive multi-component analysis. The method combines QuEChers for extraction, Thomson eXtreme|FV®s for clean-up, and the Sciex Scheduled MRM Pro Algorithm for identification of pesticides in fruit and vegetables analysis.

A study was conducted using the Bruker EVOQ for the analysis of 250 pesticides in apple juice using only one method in store-bought juice and simple sample preparation using the Thomson eXtreme|FV®s in a dilute-and-shoot approach without sample enrichment. LCMS/MS operated in Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) mode with dual scan Electrospray Ionization (ESI) is widely used for polar, semivolatile, and thermally labile pesticides in food testing. The Bruker EVOQ Elite LC-Triple Quadrupole System provides fast positive/negative switching, allowing for simultaneous determination of positive and negative co-eluting compounds numbering in the hundreds. Simple sample preparation is explored using Thomson eXtreme|FV®s for sample clean-up instead of lengthy alternatives like SPE or centrifugation followed by liquid-liquid extraction.

Pesticides are toxic when found in sufficient quantities as pesticide residue in food. This is of particular importance for orange juice because it is consumed in high quantities by children. In order to reduce the risk to consumers, sensitive, rapid, and cost effective analytical methods are required. The pesticides in orange juice testing shown below compares recoveries for samples prepared using SPE versus Thomson eXtreme Filter Vials Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) is a common sample preparation technique prior to GC or LC analysis of pesticides in food. Typically, SPE is used to concentrate analytes, to reduce interference from co-eluting compounds, or to clean up/”filter” sample particulates. Drawbacks to the use of SPE include cost, sample preparation time, large sample volumes, use and disposal of organic solvents, and potentially poor recoveries. The continuing development of higher sensitivity instrumentation and improved filtration devices, many labs are investigating whether methods can be adapted to eliminate the SPE step. Thomson eXtreme® Filter Vials offer multi- layer filtration for viscous samples and samples containing up to 30% solid particulates. Prior to the introduction of eXtreme Filter Vials, some samples containing high level of particulates could only be “filtered” by SPE. The filter vial consists of two parts: a filter vial shell and a plunger which includes the multi-layer filter on one end and a vial cap on the other end. Samples are filtered by pipetting the sample into the filter vial shell, inserting the plunger into the shell, and then pushing the plunger into the shell. Since the filtration process from sample pipetting to filtered sample in an autosampler ready vial only requires 15 seconds and the multi-layered filtration membrane can filter samples with high particulate content, we have found many applications where the SPE step in a method can be replaced with a much faster and lower cost eXtreme Filter Vial step.