Organochlorine pesticides by LC/MS with APCI ot APPI?

Discussions about methods and best practices across food quality, safety and authenticity testing.

5 posts Page 1 of 1
We recently purchased an Agilent Ultivo with ESI interface for analysis of the pesticides listed in USP <561>. These are primarily pyrethroids, organophosphates, and organochlorines. I expect the first two classes to respond well by ESI-MS, but not the organochlorines. Does anyone have experience measuring organochlorine pesticides (DDT, heptachlor, etc.) in food or dietary supplements using APCI or APPI? Which of these two ionization methods would be preferred?
Agilent says that only APCI, but not APPI, is available for the Ultivo. My research suggests that we would have adequate sensitivity by APCI, but we don’t want to spend the money on the APCI source and take a chance on it not working out. So, we have decided to go with GC-ECD for the organochlorines.

Also, we have realized that the dithiocarbamates are going to require a separate sample prep. Our plan is to hydrolyze these to CS2 and analyze by headspace-GC-ECD. Wish me luck!
I think that once you have purchased a triple quad, it would be fair that Agilent makes the effort to lend you an APCI probe so you can do some tests and decide if you buy it or not...
If they don't want to lend you an APCI probe, ask them to give you demo data to demonstrate whether it works or not for your method and your target compounds. They should be able to do this in their demo lab if they want a sale. Given that pesticide analysis is a very common application, they may already have comparative data available.
If Formic Acid isn't strong enough you can use Acetic Acid. Acetic Acid is used in EPA method 545 for Anatoxin and it works great for us.
The past is there to guide us into the future, not to dwell in.
5 posts Page 1 of 1

Who is online

In total there is 1 user online :: 0 registered, 0 hidden and 1 guest (based on users active over the past 5 minutes)
Most users ever online was 1117 on Mon Jan 31, 2022 2:50 pm

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

Latest Blog Posts from Separation Science

Separation Science offers free learning from the experts covering methods, applications, webinars, eSeminars, videos, tutorials for users of liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, sample preparation and related analytical techniques.

Subscribe to our eNewsletter with daily, weekly or monthly updates: Food & Beverage, Environmental, (Bio)Pharmaceutical, Bioclinical, Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry.

Liquid Chromatography

Gas Chromatography

Mass Spectrometry