Development and validation of a multiresidue method for pesticide analysis in honey by UFLC-MS

Abstract

A method for the determination of pesticide residues in honey by ultra fast liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was developed. For this purpose, different variations of the QuECHERS method were performed: (i) amount of sample, (ii) type of salt to control pH, (iii) buffer pH, and (iv) different mixtures for cleaning-up. In addition, to demonstrate that the method is reliable, different validation parameters were studied: accuracy, limits of detection and quantification, linearity and selectivity. The results showed that by means of the changes introduced it was possible to get a more selective method that improves the accuracy of about 19 pesticides selected from the original method. It was found that the method is suitable for the analysis of 50 pesticides, out of 56. Furthermore, with the developed method recoveries between 70 and 120% and relative standard deviation below 15% were found.

Keywords

• Plaguicidas
• QuEChERS
• Miel
• Validación