QuEChERS Cleanup

QuEChERS extracts cleanup - How Micro-SPE Works

The QuEChERS extraction of homogeneous samples and extracts cleanup for the analysis of pesticides and environmental contaminants is one example of how PAL Systems robotic instruments can solve the demands of sample processing faced by researchers.

Technology

The QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) extraction is commonly used for the analysis of pesticides and other contaminants in a variety of matrices. It usually involves extraction with acetonitrile in the presence of a mixture of salts followed by centrifugation. An aliquot of the supernatant is then cleaned-up by a manual dispersive Solid Phase Extraction (d-SPE) in an attempt to remove unwanted matrix compounds.

The micro-SPE clean-up uses a cartridge replacing dSPE. It empowers reliable, high-throughput sample processing with minimized labor input and instrument maintenance. The μSPE cleanup of QuEChERS extracts is undertaken in a scavenging mode, where unwanted matrix is retained by the micro-SPE sorbent, and contaminants are recovered in a sharp elution profile.

Also the automated cleanup of ethyl acetate extracts (Swedish ethylacetate method, SweEt) was shown to be successful using the PAL µSPE Cartridges and workflow.

Benefits

Achieves high quality results for a wide range of analytes and foods (apple, kiwi, carrot, kale, orange, black olive, pork loin, salmon, and avocado); Lehotay et al., 2016
Enables reliable, high sample throughput 24/7, the μSPE step takes 8 min per sample
Requires no sample concentration by evaporation
Minimizes manual labor input and instrument maintenance
Provides better QuEChERS extracts clean-up than dispersive-SPE (dSPE)
Increases instrument up-time significantly because of cleaner extracts

Benefits compared to dSPE:

Provides better cleanup than dispersive-SPE
Requires no sample concentration by evaporation
The recent publication by Nicolas Michlig and Steven J. Lehotay (US Department of Agriculture, Wyndmore PA, USA) evaluated the novel septumless µSPE cartridge with high extract load flow rates in the range of up to 10 µL/s, using extract volumes of up 600 µL. More than 250 pesticides were tested using the QuEChERSER methodology with LPGC-MS/MS analysis, which achieved recoveries of 80 to 120% for more than 260 pesticides. Optimization experiments led to a routine extract load volume of 500 µL at 5 µL/s flow rate.

Authors: Nicolás Michlig, Steven J. Lehotay

Publication

Complete Solutions from our Partners

Together with our partners complete solutions integrating sample prep, data acquisition and analysis have been realized:

Thermo Fisher Scientific™ offers the µSPE Clean-up Tool for TriPlus™ RSH Autosampler

Agilent China offers a µSPE solution for the Agilent PAL RTC

Related Content

eBooks

QuEChERS Compendium

Automated μSPE cleanup for GC/MS or LC/MS analysis of pesticides and environmental contaminants in QuEChERS extracts of foods

The Power of Micro Solid Phase Extraction

eBooks

The Power of Micro Solid Phase Extraction

This eBook explores the potential of μSPE to transform analytical workflows. It highlights the key benefits of μSPE, compares it with traditional techniques and examines its application across various industries. This resource provides a comprehensive guide for scientists and lab managers looking to optimize their sample preparation processes, achieve higher precision and embrace sustainable practices in analytical chemistry.

Webinars

Advantages of automated and miniaturized µSPE clean-up in pesticides residues analysis

Recent developments in pesticides analysis extend the well-established methods to higher productivity and reliability while minimizing consumption and exposition to harmful chemicals. A workflow was developed that allows automatic preparation of calibration standards, automatic sample dilution, and automatic clean-up of sample extracts on one instrument, showing that miniaturized automated solutions are reducing errors, improving analytical consistency and protecting the environment in one convenient approach.

Presented by:

Thomi Preiswerk, Senior Account Manager, CTC Analytics AG

Gwen Lim , Specialist for automated sample preparation, CTC Analytics

Ederina Ninga, Postdoc, Research Group for Analytical Food Chemistry, Danish Technical University

Webinars

Automated Sample Preparation for pesticides using QuEChERS extraction and cleanup

The QuEChERS analysis method is a popular Solid Phase Extraction method used for the analysis of pesticide residues in food. However, there are analytical and logistical limitations during cleanup. The Webinar shows two workflow variations for high sample throughput in online GC/MS and LC/MS analysis.

Presented by:
Hans-Joachim Huebschmann, PhD, Gwen Lim and Chiew Mei Chong, CTC Analytics AG

Application Notes

Analysis of Highly Polar Pesticides

Micro-SPE (μSPE) emerged as an automated green micromethod for sample preparation and clean-up in food safety, proteomics, forensic, environmental and analysis since more than ten years. Applications are wideranging and cover drugs, environmental contaminants, and, in particular, the extract clean-up in multiresidue pesticide analysis. The automation of the μSPE sample preparation steps led to the desired standardization of the applied sorbent materials for extract clean-up for the large variety of food commodities, an increase in sample throughput, and the welcome potential for offline and online hyphenation with GC/MS, LC/MS or even IC analysis.

Automated Mini‑Column Solid‑Phase Extraction Cleanup for High‑Throughput Analysis of Chemical Contaminants in Foods

Application Notes

Automated Mini‑Column Solid‑Phase Extraction Cleanup for High‑Throughput Analysis of Chemical Contaminants in Foods

This study demonstrated the application of an automated high-throughput mini-SPE cleanup for the analysis of pesticides and environmental contaminants in QuEChERS extracts of foods.

Walk away QuEChERS extracts clean-up

See this detailed video of the µSPE workflow for the clean-up of raw pesticides extract. The PAL µSPE Cartridge is operated in scavenger mode eluting the pesticides in a clean extract. The matrix is kept on the sorbent material. The cleaned extract can be injected without waiting time online for LC/MS or GC/MS analysis. All samples are treated on the same time axis for highest reliability.

Brochures

PAL Method Composer

Methods in minutes

Brochures

PAL QuEChERS

Automated μSPE cleanup for GC/MS or LC/MS analysis of pesticides and environmental contaminants in QuEChERS extracts of foods

Fully Automated QuEChERS Extraction and µSPE Clean-up of Organophosphate Pesticides in Orange Juice

Publications

Fully Automated QuEChERS Extraction and µSPE Clean-up of Organophosphate Pesticides in Orange Juice

Chiew Mei Chong1, Hans-Joachim Hübschmann2

1 CTC Analytics Pte. Ltd., Singapore.
2 HANS Analytical Solutions, Osaka, Japan.

Poster-Automated-Clean-up-and-Analysis-of-Pesticids in spices by Mini-SPE

Posters

Automated Clean-up and Analysis of Pesticides in Spices by Mini-SPE

The automated mini-SPE clean-up workflow improved the efficiency of analysis and significantly increased the sample throughput.

Automated clean up of PAH in Sunflower oil Poster

Posters

Automated Clean-up of PAH in Sunflower Oil for GC/MS

The objective was to establish an automated µSPE clean-up procedure for PAH analysis in edible oils, here used sunflower oil. We were using the greater concepts of Green Analytical Chemistry and automation.