Micro-SPE clean-up of QuEChERS extracts

QuEChERS clean-up

QuEChERS clean-up - How Micro-SPE Works

The QuEChERS extraction of homogeneous samples and extracts clean-up 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 clean-up 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 clean-up of ethyl acetate extracts (Swedish ethylacetate method, SweEt) was shown to be successful using the PAL System 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 cleanup 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

Watch the instructive video explaining the workflow of the µSPE QuEChERS extract clean-up

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

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This note covers the development and use of miniaturized cSPE for QuEChERS.

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

eBooks

QuEChERS Compendium

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

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

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.

Automated Clean-up of QuEChERS Extracts for GC-MS and LC-MS

Posters

Automated Clean-up of QuEChERS Extracts for GC-MS and LC-MS

A fully automated, true green analytical method, for high sensitivity and precision pesticide analysis. This report describes for the first time a fully automated QuEChERS extraction and clean-up workflow for homogeneous matrices like fruit juices, demonstrated for orange juice.

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

Webinars

Advantages of automated and miniaturized µ-SPE 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

Learn more

Automated Sample Preparation for pesticides using QuEChERS extraction and cleanup

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

Videos

Walk away QuEChERS extracts clean-up

See this detailed video of the µSPE workflow for the clean-up of raw pesticides extract. The 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.