Special products for determination of pesticides in food samples
QuEChERS method and pre-mixes
Within a few years after its development by Anastassiades et al. the QuEChERS method has gained a leading position for the determination of pesticide residues in food samples by GC-MS or LC-MS, allowing rapid and cheap clean-up of strongly matrix-contaminated samples.
For optimizing the extraction of pH-dependent compounds, for minimizing decomposition of sensitive substances, and for broadening the matrix spectrum, different modifications of the QuEChERS method have been elaborated.
MACHEREY-NAGEL offers a number of individually weighed and premixed extraction (buffered or non-buffered) and clean-up mixtures, specially composed for different sample matrices.
Features
- Special SPE phase for quick and cheap determination of pesticides in strongly matrix-contaminated samples by GC-MS and LC-MS
- QuEChERS method = Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe
- Different sizes (e.g., 2 mL, 15 mL centrifuge tubes), aluminum bags
- For clean-up, the Diamino phase (PSA) removes, polar compunds e.g., sugars and organic acids.
- Primary and Secondary Amine functions (PSA)
- Magnesium sulfate removes water
- C18 ec removes nonpolar interferences such as fats and the Carbon phase removes pigments, sterols, and nonpolar interferences.
- and further compounds for clean-up mixes
Extraction mixes
- European standard EN 15662 recommends a citrate extraction mix (Mix I)
- AOAC standard 2007.1 uses an acetate extraction mix (Mix II)
- A non-buffered extraction mix is used in the original method (Mix XII)