Multiresidue pesticide quantitation in multiple fruit matrices via automated coated blade spray and liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

Application of ambient mass spectrometry techniques to accelerate analysis of pesticides in produce, with technique validation via chromatographic separation, has not been explored extensively. In this work, coated blade spray (CBS) was used to provide freedom of instrumental choice for a multiresidue panel of pesticides in apple, blueberry, grape, and strawberry through direct-coupling with mass spectrometry (MS) and liquid chromatographic (LC) analyses. For all four matrices, > 125 compounds were found to meet European Union guidelines concerning linearity, precision, and accuracy while both CBS-MS/MS and SPME-LC-MS/MS methods achieved limits of quantitation below their minimum regulatory limits. Additionally, results for samples containing residues (n = 57) yielded good agreement between instrumental methods (percent differences < 20% for 73% residues), supporting CBS as a stand-alone technique or complement to LC confirmation of pesticides in fruit matrices.

Automated summary

The study explored the use of coated blade spray (CBS) for rapid analysis of pesticides in various fruits, demonstrating its versatility and accuracy across different matrices. Results showed good agreement between CBS and traditional liquid chromatographic methods, indicating CBS as a potential alternative or complement for pesticide confirmation in fruit samples.