Trace-level determination of pesticides in food using difficult matrix introduction-gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

A procedure for the fully automated analysis of food samples by means of difficult matrix introduction-gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (DMI-GC-ToF MS) is discussed. After extraction, samples require very little clean-up and are injected in a micro- or micro-vial which is held in a liner. Next, the liner is placed in the injector and the contents of the vial are thermally desorbed and led directly to the capillary GC column. After GC-ToF MS analysis, the data are processed automatically using a peak deconvolution algorithm. The practicability of the procedure was demonstrated by analysing spiked grape and pineapple samples down to the 1-10 ng/g concentration level.