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 μ-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.