Abstract
A simple method based on matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) extraction and gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (GC-ECD) is employed to determine pesticide residues in the following tropical fruits: banana, mango, melon, papaya and pineapple. In the MSPD proposed method, C18, silica gel and ethyl acetate presented the best results in the extraction, clean-up and elution steps, respectively. Spiked blank samples were used to minimize the matrix effect in the chromatographic determination. The validation process was conducted at three different concentration levels of spiked samples (0.50-2.50 µg g-1) in within-a-day and in among days assays. The limits of detection for the pesticides ranged from 4.0 to 23 µg kg-1. The method showed acceptable selectivity, coefficients of correlation higher than 0.997, and recovery between 76-105%. The within-a-day precision was assessed through the relative standard deviation (2.8-19%) for the different levels of spiked samples tested.
Highlights
The recent Brazilian fruit growing jumped the country to an important position in the international agribusiness sector
Because different limit of detection (LOD) values were obtained for the investigated pesticides (4-25 μg kg-1), 50 μg kg-1 was assumed as the limit of quantification (LOQ) for all pesticides on the proposed method
This conservative assumed value seems to be high, it contemplates the maximum residue limit (MRL) in fruits according to the Brazilian Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program guidelines (Table 1).[47]
Summary
The recent Brazilian fruit growing jumped the country to an important position in the international agribusiness sector. With a variety of crops produced throughout the country and in different climates, Brazil is the leading world producer of oranges; the secondleading producer of bananas and papayas; the third-largest producer of pineapples; and an important producer of Tahiti lemons, tangerines and grapes.[1]. After China and India, the third largest producer of fruit in the world (43 million ton per year). About 70% of Brazil’s fruit exports go to Europe and the overarching goal of Brazilian fruit cultivation is to consolidate its position as the leader in the international market. 711,000 tons of the Brazilian fruits are exported to more than 110 countries being mangoes, melons, oranges, grapes, papayas, limes and bananas the
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