Rapid detection of pesticides in honey by solid-phase micro-extraction coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Detection of pesticide residues in food samples is important for safeguarding food quality and safety. Conventional approaches for detection of pesticides in food samples typically involve labour-intensive and time-consuming sample pretreatment and chromatographic separation. In this study, solid phase micro-extraction fibres were used to rapidly extract and enrich pesticides in honey, a popular agricultural product with complex matrix, and then directly coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for qualitative and quantitative analysis. Three pesticides, ie, atrazine, benalaxyl, and pirimicarb, were investigated using the technique and their analytical performances were evaluated. The limits of detection and limits of quantitation of all the three pesticides could fulfil the cut-off values of the international standard. Linear calibration curves were constructed with good R² coefficients, and the accuracy and precision were in acceptable ranges for all the pesticides. The analysis time is much reduced, with only minimum sample preparation and no chromatographic separation involved. The technique is simple and easy to set up, and can be extended for analysis of other analytes and sample systems.