QuEChERS – Sample Prep for Pesticide Residue Analysis in Cannabis Extracts
Isolate pesticide residues from your extract for further analysis and quantification
QuEChERS, which stands for quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe is a well-accepted sample prep methodology that facilitates the isolation of pesticide residues from cannabis samples before analytical evaluation by LC or LC-MS. It has been extensively for the use of testing pesticides in fruits and vegetables.
QuEChERS will improve the isolation of pesticide contaminants, help with decreasing solvent usage when compared to other extraction methods, and reduce cost by not necessitating further investment into additional benchtop equipment.
The QuEChERS method is used to determine pesticide residues in Cannabis samples by GC-MS or LC-MS, allowing:
- Rapid clean-up of strongly matrix-contaminated samples
- Extraction optimization of pH-dependent compounds
- Minimizing the decomposition of sensitive substances
- Broadening the matrix spectrum
Advantages of QuEChERS in comparison with classical clean-up methods:
- Easy to handle and time-saving procedure
- No need for glassware
- Low consumption of solvents
- No need for chlorinated solvents
- A broad range of pesticides can be detected
- Rugged method with high and safe recovery rates
Separation of pesticides by HPLC after matrix reduction with QuEChERS
| Initial Extraction Columns | |
|---|---|
| QuEChERS Mix | Column Composition |
| Mix I 4g MgSO4, 1g NaCl, 0.5g Na2H Citrate · 1.5g H2O, 1g Na3 Citrate · 2 H2O | |
| 6g MgSO4, 1.5g Na Citrate | |