High-Throughput Screening and Quantification of Pesticides in Paprika by UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS

In this study, a multi-component analytical method for the detection of pesticide residues in paprika by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was developed and validated. The sample preparation is based on an extraction step with acetonitrile followed by a cleanup step using dispersive solid-phase extraction. Mass accuracies with errors of less than 5 ppm and a retention time tolerance of 0.2 min were observed for all selected pesticides. The UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS method was validated according to linearity, limit of quantification, and recovery. Applying the developed method to real samples, 22.8 mu g kg(-1) of triazophos was found in one of the paprika sample, which was beyond the maximum residue levels. The results showed that the developed method could be routinely used for the screening and quantitative analysis of pesticide residues in paprika.