Improved efficiency of ion trapping time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the analysis of pesticide residues and mycotoxins at trace levels in baby food.

The analysis of pesticide residues and mycotoxins in baby food demands exceptionally low limits of quantitation, necessitating the use of highly sensitive instruments capable of conducting trace analyses. High-resolution instruments typically fail to detect such low levels. However, the latest advancements in liquid time-of-flight technology, when coupled with ion trapping, enable ion enrichment, thereby improving detection levels.

From sound check to encore: A journey through high-resolution mass spectrometry-based food analyses and metabolomics.

This manuscript presents a comprehensive review of high-resolution mass spectrometry in the field of food analysis and metabolomics. We have followed the historical evolution of metabolomics, its associated techniques and technologies, and its increasing role in food science and research. The review provides a critical comparison and synthesis of tentative identification guidelines proposed for over 15 years, offering a condensed resource for researchers in the field.

Determination of highly polar anionic pesticides in beehive products by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.

The analysis of highly polar pesticides is challenging due to their unique physicochemical properties, requiring specialized chromatographic techniques for their accurate and sensitive detection. Furthermore, the high level of co-extracted polar matrix components that can co-elute with the analytes can interfere with the analysis. Consequently, there is lack of pesticide monitoring data, as the European Food Safety Authority has pointed out.

Pesticide residue analysis in different spice samples by automatic µSPE clean-up workflow determination using LC-MS/MS.

Spices such as paprika, curry, turmeric, dry chilli, and black pepper are grown in various geographic locations and widely used by consumers across the world. Pesticides applied during crop production practices could contaminate the produce, affecting the quality and posing a health risk for consumers. The complexity of the spice matrix and the wide range of target pesticides potentially present require special sample extraction and clean-up treatments to overcome matrix interference and ion suppression.

Cutting-edge approach using dual-channel chromatography to overcome the sensitivity issues associated with polarity switching in pesticide residues analysis.

A fast and sensitive method was validated for the analysis of pesticide residues in baby food. After an QuEChERS-based extraction, the samples were analysed with a dual-channel liquid chromatography instrument coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The method consisted of two independent injections per sample.

Improving the simultaneous target and non-target analysis LC-amenable pesticide residues using high speed Orbitrap mass spectrometry with combined multiple acquisition modes.

The use of high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) for the simultaneous target and non-target analysis of pesticide residues in food control is a subject that has been studied over the last decade. However, proving its efficacy compared to the more established triple quadrupole mass spectrometers (QQQ-MS2) is challenging. Various HRMS platforms have been evaluated, seemingly showing this approach not to be as effective as QQQ-MS2 for quantitative analysis, especially in routine food testing laboratories.

Dual-channel chromatography a smart way to improve the analysis efficiency in liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.

Dual-channel chromatography was evaluated for pesticide residue analysis in fruits and vegetables and for unknown compounds detection. A dual-channel system was tested coupled to triple quadrupole and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The first part of the investigation was related to the improvement of the sample throughput with a 100 mm column.

Identification of unexpected chemical contaminants in baby food coming from plastic packaging migration by high resolution accurate mass spectrometry.

Plastic multilayers are widely used for baby food packaging. However, it is important to consider that migration of food contact materials (FCM) into the baby food can occur. The comprehensive identification of potential migrants, including intentionally added substances (IAS) and non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), is required to assess the safety of these packaging materials.

Microflow liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry--an approach to significantly increase sensitivity, decrease matrix effects, and reduce organic solvent usage in pesticide residue analysis.

This manuscript reports a new pesticide residue analysis method employing a microflow-liquid chromatography system coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (microflow-LC-ESI-QqQ-MS). This uses an electrospray ionization source with a narrow tip emitter to generate smaller droplets. A validation study was undertaken to establish performance characteristics for this new approach on 90 pesticide residues, including their degradation products, in three commodities (tomato, pepper, and orange).

Prevalence of potentially thermophilic microorganisms in biofilms from greenhouse-enclosed drip irrigation systems.

Drip irrigation systems using reclaimed water often present clogging events of biological origin. Microbial communities in biofilms from microirrigation systems of an experimental greenhouse in Almería, SE Spain, which used two different qualities of water (treated wastewater and reclaimed water), were analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and subsequent sequencing of amplified 16S rRNA gene bands. The most remarkable feature of all biofilms was that regardless of water origin, sequences belonging to Firmicutes were prevalent (53.

Reducing the environmental impacts of reverse osmosis desalination by using brackish groundwater resources.

The aim of the present work is to find out whether or not, and to what extent, the environmental impacts of reverse osmosis desalination are reduced when brackish groundwater is used instead of sea water. In order to answer this question, the Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology is used, and two water production plants are compared. The brackish groundwater scenario is based on a plant located in Almería (southern Spain), while the sea water scenario is based on literature data.

Feasibility of LC/TOFMS and elemental database searching as a spectral library for pesticides in food.

Traditionally, the screening of unknown pesticides in food has been accomplished by GC/MS methods using conventional library-searching routines. However, many of the new polar and thermally labile pesticides are more readily and easily analysed by LC/MS methods and no searchable libraries currently exist (with the exception of some user libraries, which are limited). Therefore, there is a need for LC/MS libraries that can detect pesticides and their degradation products.

Occurrence of polybrominated diphenylethers, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and biphenyls in coastal sediments from Spain.

Fifteen sediment samples were analysed in order to determine their content of polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and biphenyls (PCBs). Samples were collected from several hot spots on the Spanish coast, such as the harbours of Almeria and Tarragona, and the mouths of the Besos and Llobregat rivers in Barcelona. A generic analytical procedure based on Soxhlet extraction followed by an automated cleanup system and gas chromatography-ion trap-mass spectrometry was employed for determining the toxic congeners of PCDDs and PCDFs, as well as dioxin-like PCBs.

Matching unknown empirical formulas to chemical structure using LC/MS TOF accurate mass and database searching: example of unknown pesticides on tomato skins.

Traditionally, the screening of unknown pesticides in food has been accomplished by GC/MS methods using conventional library searching routines. However, many of the new polar and thermally labile pesticides and their degradates are more readily and easily analyzed by LC/MS methods and no searchable libraries currently exist (with the exception of some user libraries, which are limited). Therefore, there is a need for LC/MS approaches to detect unknown non-target pesticides in food.