Efficiency of ESI and APCI ionization sources in LC-MS/MS systems for analysis of 22 pesticide residues in food matrix.

The intensive use of pesticides has led to the need to optimize analytical methodologies for the control of residues in food. The present study aims to compare the efficiency of different ion sources (Eletrospray Ionization-ESI and Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization - APCI) in LC-MS/MS systems, when analysing 22 pesticides in a cabbage matrix. The method performance was evaluated during a validation study.