Development, validation and determination of multiclass pesticide residues in cocoa beans using gas chromatography and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Food Chem. 2015 Apr 1:172:585-95. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.09.123. Epub 2014 Sep 28.

Abstract

An efficient and rapid method for the analysis of pesticide residues in cocoa beans using gas and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was developed, validated and applied to imported and domestic cocoa beans samples collected over 2 years from smallholders and Malaysian ports. The method was based on solvent extraction method and covers 26 pesticides (insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides) of different chemical classes. The recoveries for all pesticides at 10 and 50 μg/kg were in the range of 70-120% with relative standard deviations of less than 20%. Good selectivity and sensitivity were obtained with method limit of quantification of 10 μg/kg. The expanded uncertainty measurements were in the range of 4-25%. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied for the routine analysis of pesticide residues in cocoa beans via a monitoring study where 10% of them was found positive for chlorpyrifos, ametryn and metalaxyl.

Keywords: Cocoa beans; GC–MS/MS; LC–MS/MS; Method validation; Pesticide residues.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Alanine / analogs & derivatives
  • Alanine / analysis
  • Alanine / isolation & purification
  • Cacao / chemistry*
  • Chlorpyrifos / analysis
  • Chlorpyrifos / isolation & purification
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid*
  • Food Analysis / methods*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry*
  • Pesticide Residues / analysis*
  • Pesticide Residues / isolation & purification
  • Solid Phase Extraction
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry*
  • Triazines / analysis
  • Triazines / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Pesticide Residues
  • Triazines
  • metalaxyl
  • ametryne
  • Chlorpyrifos
  • Alanine