Determination of carbamates in edible vegetable oils by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry using a new clean-up based on zirconia for QuEChERS methodology

In this study a fast, selective and sensitive multiresidue method based on QuEChERS methodology has been evaluated and validated for the determination of carbamate pesticides, in edible vegetable oils by UHPLC–MS/MS. A new clean-up sorbent, SupelTM QuE Z-Sep+, has been successfully applied in vegetable oil extracts. Z-Sep+ was compared with other sorbents (i.e. mixture of C18 and PSA) previously used for dispersive solid phase extraction of these matrices, reducing more effectively matrix effects without a significant decrease of analyte recoveries. Matrix effect was studied in different matrices (extra-virgin olive, sunflower, maize, linseed and sesame oil) being ≤│30│% for most of the studied pesticides. Under optimum conditions, recoveries ranged from 74% to 101%, with relative standard deviations lower than 10%. Limits of quantification ranged from 0.09 to 2.0 µg kg−1, allowing their determination at the low concentration levels demanding by current legislation.