Determination of carbamate and urea pesticide residues in fresh vegetables using microwave-assisted extraction and liquid chromatography

An analytical multiresidue method for the simultaneous determination of seven pesticides in fresh vegetable samples, namely, courgette (Cucurbita pepo), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), lettuce (Lactuca sativa, Romaine and Iceberg varieties) and peppers (Capsicum sp.) is described. The procedure, based on microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and analysis by liquid chromatography– photodiode array (LC–PDA) detection was applied to four carbamates (carbofuran, carbaryl, chlorpropham and EPTC) and three urea pesticides (monolinuron, metobromuron and linuron). Extraction solvent and the addition of anhydrous sodium sulphate to fresh vegetable homogenate before MAE were the parameters optimised for each commodity. Recovery studies were performed using spiked samples in the range 250–403 µgkg- 1 in each pesticide. The pesticide residues were extracted using 20mL acetonitrile at 60 ºC, for 10 min. Acceptable recoveries and RSDs were attained (overall average recovery of 77.2% and RSDs are lower than 11%). Detection limits ranged between 5.8 µgkg- 1 for carbaryl to 12.3 µgkg- 1 for carbofuran. The analytical protocol was applied for quality control of 41 fresh vegetable samples bought in Oporto Metropolitan Area (North Portugal). None of the samples contained any detectable amounts of the studied compounds.

Electroanalytical study of the pesticide asulam

The electrochemical behaviour of the herbicide Asulam was studied by cyclic and square wave voltammetry. Asulam may be irreversibly oxidised at a glassy carbon electrode. Maximum currents were obtained at pH=1.9 in aqueous electrolyte solution. Based on the electrochemical behaviour of Asulam, two analytical methodologies were developed for its determination in water samples, using square wave voltammetry (SWV) and flow injection analysis (FIA) coupled with an amperometric detector. Limits of detection of 7.1x10-6 mol L-1 and 1.2x10-8 mol L-1 for SWV and FIA respectively, were achieved. Repeatability was calculated by assessing the relative standard deviation (%) for 10 consecutive determinations of one sample. The found values were 2.1% for SWV and 5.0% for FIA. Validation of the results provided by SWV and FIA methodologies was performed by comparison with results from an HPLC-DAD technique. Good relative deviations were found (<5%). Recovery trials were performed to assess the accuracy of the results and the obtained values were between 84% and 107% for both methods.

Electroanalytical study of the pesticide ethiofencarb

A detailed study of voltammetric behavior of ethiofencarb (ETF) is reported using glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). With GCE, it is possible to verify that the oxidative mechanism is irreversible, independent of pH, and the maximum intensity current was observed at +1.20 V vs. AgCl/Ag at pH 1.9. A linear calibration line was obtained from 1.0x10-4 to 8.0x10-4 mol L-1 with SWV method. To complete the electrochemical knowledge of ETF pesticide, the reduction was also explored with HMDE. A well-defined peak was observed at –1.00V vs. AgCl/Ag in a large range of pH with higher signal at pH 7.0. Linearity was obtained in 4.2x10-6 and 9.4x10-6 mol L-1 ETF concentration range. An immediate alkaline hydrolysis of ETF was executed, producing a phenolic compound (2-ethylthiomethylphenol) (EMP), and the electrochemical activity of the product was examined. It was deduced that it is oxidized on GCE at +0.75V vs. AgCl/Ag with a maximum peak intensity current at pH 3.2, but the compound had no reduction activity on HMDE. Using the decrease of potential peak, a flow injection analysis (FIA) system was developed connected to an amperometric detector, enabling the determination of EMP over concentration range of 1.0x10-7 and 1.0x10-5 mol L-1 at a sampling rate of 60 h-1. The results provided by FIA methodology were performed by comparison with results from high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique and demonstrated good agreement with relative deviations lower than 4%. Recovery trials were performed and the obtained values were between 98 and 104%.

Biosensor based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes paste electrode modified with laccase for pirimicarb pesticide quantification

This study focused on the development of a sensitive enzymatic biosensor for the determination of pirimicarb pesticide based on the immobilization of laccase on composite carbon paste electrodes. Multi- walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs)paste electrode modified by dispersion of laccase(3%,w/w) within the optimum composite matrix(60:40%,w/w,MWCNTs and paraffin binder)showed the best performance, with excellent electron transfer kinetic and catalytic effects related to the redox process of the substrate4- aminophenol. No metal or anti-interference membrane was added. Based on the inhibition of laccase activity, pirimicarb can be determined in the range 9.90 ×10- 7 to 1.15 ×10- 5 molL 1 using 4- aminophenol as substrate at the optimum pH of 5.0, with acceptable repeatability and reproducibility (relative standard deviations lower than 5%).The limit of detection obtained was 1.8 × 10-7 molL 1 (0.04 mgkg 1 on a fresh weight vegetable basis).The high activity and catalytic properties of the laccase- based biosensor are retained during ca. one month. The optimized electroanalytical protocol coupled to the QuEChERS methodology were applied to tomato and lettuce samples spiked at three levels; recoveries ranging from 91.0±0.1% to 101.0 ± 0.3% were attained. No significant effects in the pirimicarb electro- analysis were observed by the presence of pro-vitamin A, vitamins B1 and C,and glucose in the vegetable extracts. The proposed biosensor- based pesticide residue methodology fulfills all requisites to be used in implementation of food safety programs.

Multi-μ: an Ada 95 based architecture for fault tolerance support of real-time systems

This paper presents an architecture (Multi-μ) being implemented to study and develop software based fault tolerant mechanisms for Real-Time Systems, using the Ada language (Ada 95) and Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components. Several issues regarding fault tolerance are presented and mechanisms to achieve fault tolerance by software active replication in Ada 95 are discussed. The Multi-μ architecture, based on a specifically proposed Fault Tolerance Manager (FTManager), is then described. Finally, some considerations are made about the work being done and essential future developments.

Analysis of pesticide residues in strawberries and soils by GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS and two-dimensional GC-timeof- flight MS comparing organic and integrated pest management farming

This study analysed 22 strawberry and soil samples after their collection over the course of 2 years to compare the residue profiles from organic farming with integrated pest management practices in Portugal. For sample preparation, we used the citrate-buffered version of the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method. We applied three different methods for analysis: (1) 27 pesticides were targeted using LC-MS/MS; (2) 143 were targeted using low pressure GC-tandem mass spectrometry (LP-GC-MS/MS); and (3) more than 600 pesticides were screened in a targeted and untargeted approach using comprehensive, two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOF-MS). Comparison was made of the analyses using the different methods for the shared samples. The results were similar, thereby providing satisfactory confirmation of both similarly positive and negative findings. No pesticides were found in the organic-farmed samples. In samples from integrated pest management practices, nine pesticides were determined and confirmed to be present, ranging from 2 μg kg−1 for fluazifop-pbutyl to 50 μg kg−1 for fenpropathrin. Concentrations of residues in strawberries were less than European maximum residue limits.