Basic Principle and Application of the QuEChERS Method

In recent years, the QuEChERS method has been widely used in the pretreatment of food safety test samples. Food safety testing is also a major issue related to the international people’s livelihood. Therefore, this paper describes the QuEChERS method principle of the QuEChERS method, and its application in the pretreatment of food safety test samples.

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The QuEChERS method principle

The QuEChERS method principle is similar to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and solid phase extraction (SPE). It uses the adsorbent filler to interact with impurities in the matrix to adsorb impurities to achieve impurity removal.

Extraction: A sample (often homogenized fruits, vegetables, or grains) is mixed with acetonitrile, which extracts target analytes like pesticides. Salts (typically magnesium sulfate and sodium chloride) are added to partition water and improve analyte transfer into the organic phase.

Phase Separation: The sample is shaken and centrifuged to separate the acetonitrile (organic) layer from the aqueous layer and solids.

Cleanup (Dispersive Solid Phase Extraction, dSPE): The acetonitrile layer is mixed with sorbents (like PSA, C18, or GCB) that bind unwanted matrix components (e.g., fats, sugars, pigments). After another centrifugation, the cleaned extract is ready for analysis.

Analysis: The final extract is typically analyzed using GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) or LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry).

Application in the pretreatment of food safety testing samples

There are many applications for the QuEChERS method. As long as the recovery rate of the target to be tested meets the demand, and the matrix background of the impurity removal meets the detection requirements, the method can be used to purify the pesticide residues, animal residues, additives, illegal addition of food, and all areas of materials and plasticizers may be involved.

  • Pesticide Residue Analysis: Widely used in fruits, vegetables, cereals, and processed foods.
  • Veterinary Drug Residues: Applied in meat, milk, and eggs with some modifications.
  • Environmental Testing: Used for soil and water contaminant analysis.
  • Mycotoxins and Drug Residues: Adapted for use in testing grains and biological samples.

However, the current QuEChERS extraction method is mainly used in the detection of pesticide residues in agricultural products.

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What is QuEChERS?

QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, Safe) 2003, developed by Professor Anastassiades of the United States, became the standard method of the US Department of Agriculture last year.

More advanced real-time direct analytical mass spectrometry and high-resolution mass spectrometry are now available for the rapid detection of food safety, which is fast, simple, inexpensive, and efficient. It is named QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) because of its reliability and security.

The method uses acetonitrile as a single extraction reagent, supplemented with NaCl and anhydrous magnesium sulfate to remove the mixed water in acetonitrile, and then vortexing the extract with PSA (primary secondary amine, N-propylethylenediamine) and anhydrous magnesium sulfate. Mixing further removes impurities and moisture from the sample, a new method combining solid phase microextraction and dispersive solid phase extraction.

Once released, the QuEChERS extraction method has been widely used and widely received around the world. Since its release, the method has been improved and further developed by various researchers and has developed into a highly applicable and diverse pre-processing technology.

The QuEChERS method has been readily accepted by many pesticide residue analysts. After nearly 10 years of development, the QuEChERS method has been continuously improved and improved. Its advantages are still evident in the existing residual pre-treatment technology, and its potential is huge.

In future applications, it will continue to strengthen compatibility and combination with various testing instruments, and its application range will be further expanded. It has developed into a diversified pre-processing technology with strong applicability.

Therefore, you can use the products QuEChERS Kits, QuEChERS D-SPE Kits, and QuEChERS Extraction Salts to complete your pretreatment of food safety testing