Optimization of QuEChERS method for the analysis of organochlorine pesticides in soils with diverse organic matter

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Abstract
A QuEChERS method has been developed for the determination of 14 organochlorine pesticides in 14 soils from different Portuguese regions with wide range composition. The extracts were analysed by GC‐ECD (where GC‐ECD is gas chromatography‐electron‐capture detector) and confirmed by GC‐MS/MS (where MS/MS is tandem mass spectrometry). The organic matter content is a key factor in the process efficiency. An optimization was carried out according to soils organic carbon level, divided in two groups: HS (organic carbon >2.3%) and LS (organic carbon −1 and from 11.41 to 79.23 μg kg−1, respectively. For LS soils, the limits of detection ranged from 6.11 to 14.78 μg kg−1 and the limits of quantification from 20.37 to 49.27 μg kg−1. In the 14 collected soil samples only one showed a residue of dieldrin (45.36 μg kg−1) above the limit of quantification. This methodology combines the advantages of QuEChERS, GC‐ECD detection and GC‐MS/MS confirmation producing a very rapid, sensitive and reliable procedure which can be applied in routine analytical laboratories.
Funding Information
  • Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (PEst-C/EQB/LA0006/2011, BD/47200/2008)

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