Validation of a modified QuEChERS method to determine multiclass multipesticide residues in apple, banana and guava using GC–MS and LC–MS/MS and its application in real sample analysis

Abstract

A modified QuEChERS method was developed for the determination of 64 pesticides in apple, guava andbanana using GC–MS and LC–MS/MS. Out of sixty-four pesticides, 39 (32 insecticides + 7 herbicides) were analysed by GC–MS and others were analysed in LC–MS/MS. The efficiency of methanol, ethyl-acetate and acetonitrile as extracting solvents were checked. Among these, acetonitrile gave the highest recovery. d-SPE clean-up was done for apple and guava using PSA, whereas PSA + GCB was used for banana to remove heteropolysaccharides and carotenoids. The method was validated as per SANTE/11813/2017 guidelines. The LOD was in the range of 0.002–0.04 mg kg−1 and LOQ was 0.005–0.11 mg kg−1. Average recovery ranged from 80 to 120% with RSD ≤ 20% and RPD % of precision ≤ 20%. The expanded uncertainty was ≤ 20%. The validated method was applied to check the real samples of apple, guava and banana collected from markets of four different districts of West Bengal, India.