A Fast and Robust GC/MS/MS Analysis of 203 Pesticides in 10 Minutes in Spinach

Abstract This application note describes two approaches for achieving robust, multiresidue pesticide analysis in 10 minutes by GC/MS/MS, while maintaining sufficient chromatographic resolution for the analysis of over 200 pesticides in spinach; a challenging high chlorophyll, fresh matrix. First, the conventional 15 × 15 m (0.25 mm × 0.25 μm) midcolumn backflush configuration was used with an accelerated oven ramp, yielding an analysis time of 10 minutes. Second, a minibore 10 × 10 m (0.18 mm × 0.18 μm) midcolumn backflush configuration was used, enabling a fast 10-minute analysis time. The latter method was precisely scaled using the Agilent GC method translation technique. It was shown that midcolumn backflushing enabled method robustness and extended maintenance-free operation of the system by minimizing column trimming and source cleaning. Results demonstrate that the Agilent 7000E and 7010C triple quadrupole GC/MS systems delivered excellent linearity over a concentration range of 0.1 to 1,000 parts per billion (ppb). Method robustness was shown with 700 consecutive injections of a spinach extract, spiked with pesticides at 20 ppb, that spanned over 175 hours of continuous running of the GC/TQ.