Cleanup of QuEChERS Extracts Using SBSE for LC-MS/MS Determination of Pesticides in Food Products

Martin Perkins

28th January 2016

One of the most important aspects of reducing pesticide exposure is monitoring of pesticide residues in foods. A number of analytical methods have been developed, many of them based on traditional liquid-liquid extraction in combination with GC-MS or LC-MS. The QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) sample preparation methods have been developed to help monitor pesticides in a range of food samples. The dispersive Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) used to clean up these extracts can leave co-extractants, which can result in interferences such as ion suppression with the analytical results.