Application Note Summaries for Pesticide Analysis

Significance of the Topic

Extraction and determination of pesticide residues in food, feed, and environmental matrices is critical for food safety, regulatory compliance, and public health. Analytical methods that are rapid, robust, and capable of multi-residue detection ensure that pesticide levels remain below statutory Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) and help avoid potential health risks and trade restrictions.

Objectives and Study Overview

This collection of Thermo Scientific application notes demonstrates diverse workflows for extraction and analysis of organochlorine, organophosphorus, dithiocarbamate, and other pesticide classes. Key goals include speeding sample preparation, reducing solvent consumption, expanding compound scope, enhancing sensitivity and selectivity, and improving laboratory throughput across food products, animal feed, plant matrices, herbal supplements, and drinking water.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) with in-cell drying agents (e.g., ASE Prep MAP, DE) for rapid wet and dry sample extraction
• QuEChERS for simplified acetonitrile-based extraction of fresh produce, baby food, and herbal matrices
• Gas Chromatography with Electron Capture Detection (GC-ECD) per EPA Method 8081 for organochlorines
• Gas Chromatography–Triple Quadrupole MS/MS for high-throughput multi-residue analysis in timed-SRM and U-SRM modes
• Gas Chromatography–High-Resolution Orbitrap MS for broad-scope non-targeted screening and quantification in full-scan
• UHPLC–Triple Quadrupole MS/MS (timed SRM) and UHPLC–High-Resolution Orbitrap MS for >250 pesticides in seconds to minutes
• Ion Chromatography–Triple Quadrupole MS/MS (IC–MS/MS) for haloacetic acids, dalapon, and bromate in drinking water

Main Results and Discussion

• ASE reduced extraction times to <20 min and solvent volumes by >50 % compared to Soxhlet, while maintaining high recoveries from oyster tissue, animal feed, fruits, and vegetables.
• QuEChERS workflows achieved recoveries of >70 % for 200–437 pesticides in complex matrices with minimal cleanup.
• Fast UHPLC-MS/MS and ultrafast separations on Vanquish systems improved sample throughput by up to 300 % with consistent retention times and robust data quality.
• High-resolution GC-Orbitrap MS enabled full-scan screening of hundreds of compounds with sub-ppm mass accuracy, eliminating isobaric interferences in baby food and herbal products.
• Timed-SRM and U-SRM modes on triple quadrupole GC-MS/MS delivered detection limits down to ng/g levels, meeting MRL requirements at 0.01–10 µg/kg.
• Reagent-Free IC–MS/MS provided simultaneous analysis of nine haloacetic acids, dalapon, and bromate without sample preparation, achieving EPA Method 557 compliance.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Enhanced laboratory efficiency: three-fold productivity gains via fast GC and LC runs and direct injection of QuEChERS extracts
• Reduced operational costs: lower solvent usage through ASE and helium-conserving GC injectors
• Improved confidence in results: high mass resolution, accurate mass, and efficient SRM scheduling increase selectivity and precision in complex matrices
• Regulatory compliance: methods validated against EPA, EU, and Japan MRL guidelines
• Broad applicability: adaptable across food safety, environmental monitoring, pharmaceutical QC, and industrial analytics

Future Trends and Opportunities

Development of even faster chromatographic separations, real-time data processing with machine learning, and enhanced non-targeted screening libraries promise to further expand analytical scope. Miniaturization of ionization sources, continuous flow extraction, and integration with lab-automation robotics will drive higher throughput and lower per-sample costs, benefiting QA/QC and regulatory laboratories.

Conclusion

Thermo Scientific’s portfolio of advanced extraction, chromatographic, and mass spectrometric technologies offers robust, high-throughput workflows for multi-residue pesticide analysis. These validated methods deliver the sensitivity, selectivity, and productivity required to support stringent food safety regulations and evolving analytical demands.

Reference

• Thermo Fisher Scientific Application Notes: AB 152, AN 332, AN 343, AN 349, AN 1138, AN 579, AN 617, AN 525, AN 10446, AN 10448, AN 10449, AN 10333, AN 10361, AN 10432, AN 52291, TG 63899, AN 10401, AN 52279, AN 630