High-throughput simultaneous analysis of pesticides by supercritical fluid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Combination techniques such as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) are commonly used for pesticide residue analysis, but there is no reported method for the simultaneous analysis of multiple pesticides in a sample using a single instrument. Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) offers high resolution at high flow rates and various separation modes and hence may aid the rapid simultaneous analysis of pesticide. We developed an SFC/MS/MS method and analyzed 17 pesticides with a wide range of polarities (log Pow = −4.6 to 7.05) and molecular weights (112.1–888.6) within 11 min using a polar-embedded reversed-phase column. To the best of our knowledge, there is no previous report on the SFC analysis of a wide variety of compounds, including highly hydrophilic ones. By SFC, diquat dibromide (log Pow = −4.6), together with cypermethrin (log Pow = 6.6) and tralomethrin (log Pow = 5.05), could be detected in the presence of various other pesticides using a single mobile phase. SFC/MS allows for the rapid and simultaneous analysis of low concentrations (ng/L levels) of pesticides that typically need to be analyzed by GC/MS and LC/MS separately.

► We have successfully constructed a high-throughput analysis system for pesticides by SFC/MS/MS.
► SFC can separate diverse pesticides with wide range of polarities and molecular weights.
► Highly hydrophilic pesticides could be simultaneously analyzed with the others in this method.
► A polar-embedded reversed-phase column is useful for simultaneous analysis of pesticides.