Simultaneous determination of 58 pesticides and relevant metabolites in eggs with a multi-functional filter by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract A sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of 58 pesticides and relevant metabolites in eggs was developed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) after clean-up with a multi-functional filter (MFF) based on quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method (QuEChERS). The egg sample was extracted with 5 ml water and 10 ml 1% acetic acid in acetonitrile and then salt out with sodium chloride. The extracted solution was filtered directly through an MFF containing 50 mg PSA, 50 mg C18, and 150 mg magnesium sulphate before UHPLC-MS/MS analysis. The clean-up and filter procedures were integrated using the MFF to substantially improve the work efficiency. Good linearity was shown for each analyte, and all the correlation coefficients exceeded 0.99. The recoveries in the eggs at the five spiked levels were 74.4%–115.2%, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were less than 15.3%. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 58 pesticides and 8 metabolites in eggs were 0.1–1.0 μg/kg and 0.2–5.0 μg/kg, respectively. The decision limit (CCα) and detection capacity (CCβ) were 3.4–111.1 μg/kg and 6.8–122.1 μg/kg, respectively. This method has also been successfully applied in the determination of actual eggs samples. This developed method is more effective and faster in the monitoring of pesticide residue in eggs compared to the traditional analytical method.