Method Development and Evaluation for Multiresidue Pesticide analysis in Foods Using the 6475 Triple Quadrupole LC/MS System

Abstract

This application note describes the development and evaluation of a comprehensive LC/MS/MS method for over 500 pesticide analyses in three food matrices (wheat, olive oil, and black tea). The work was completed using the Agilent 6475 triple quadrupole LC/MS (LC/TQ) system coupled with the Agilent 1290 Infinity II Bio LC system and MassHunter Workstation 12.0.

The Agilent 6475 triple quadrupole LC/MS instrument contains hardware and software improvements to the legacy systems:

– Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based tuning and calibration
– Active system monitoring with early maintenance feedback (EMF)
– Reflexive reinjection logic with intelligent reflex (iReflex)
– Maintenance and method development automation
– Enhanced MS1 and MS2 resolution with narrow isolation mode
– Adherence to 21 CFR Part 11 and Annex 11 compliance guidelines

Introduction

Pesticides are integral for protecting crops and are necessary in most growing environments to obtain high product yields. Screening and reporting levels of pesticide residues remaining in or on commodities are required by many regulatory bodies, e.g., the US-EPA and the European Commission.1,2 Major challenges for pesticide analysis in food include many pesticides from various compound classes, diverse complex food matrices, matrix effects, low concentrations of target analytes, and so on.