DisQuE, QuEChERS Sample Preparation Products

DisQuE, QuEChERS Sample Preparation Products

QuEChERS fast and easy sample preparation for residual analysis

QuEChERS fast and easy sample preparation for residual analysis

Rapidly and easily screening large numbers of food and agricultural samples is vital for your organization. Waters QuEChERS kits for dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) analysis make sample prep quick and easy for your multi-residue food and agricultural analysis.

Waters DisQuE d-SPE products include conveniently packaged centrifuge tubes and foil pouches containing pre-weighed extraction buffer salts for use with the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) or European Committee for Standardization (CEN) QuEChERS sample preparation methods. The extracts can be cleaned up with a flexible selection of dispersive SPE (d-SPE) targeting specific sample matrix.

DiSQuE dispersive SPE products to meet QuEChERS method requirements. DisQuE, QuEChERS Sample Preparation Products
Shop Now

Specifications

Overview

  • Ready-to-use pre-weighed, ultrapure extraction salts in both centrifuge tubes and foil pouches
  • Buffer salts ideal for both AOAC (2007.01) and European (CEN 15662) QuEChERS sample preparation methods
  • Easy-open foil pouches allow extraction salts to be quickly transferred into tubes without spills
  • Time- and cost-saving sample preparation for multi-residue analysis
  • Effective, reliable and high-quality product in a convenient format
  • Efficient and matrix-specific clean-up tubes to accommodate a wide variety of commodities
  • Improved consistency in extraction products, lab efficiency, workflow and quality

Recommended Use: For multi-residue analysis in food and agricultural products.

DisQuE Formats

DisQuE Formats
Extraction buffer salts
  • Buffer salts for the use of both AOAC (2007.01) and European CEN (EN 15662) QuEChERS sample preparation methods
  • AOAC method buffer salts contain 1.5 g sodium acetate and 6 g magnesium sulfate
  • CEN method buffer salts contain 1 g trisodium citrate dihydrate, 0.5 g disodium hydrogencitrate sesquihydrate, 1 g sodium chloride, and 4 g magnesium sulfite
  • Pre-weighed salts are packaged in both 50-mL centrifuge tubes and foil pouches

For method-specific extraction.

Clean-up tubes with dispersive SPE (d-SPE)
  • A blend of SPE sorbents packaged in centrifuge tubes
  • 2 mL and 15 mL tubes for different sample volume needs
  • Each combination of sorbents with optimized weight is used targeting specific agriculture samples and commodities
  • Each sorbent is effective in retaining/removing specific sample matrix
  • C18 removes very non-polar interferences, such as fats/oils
  • PSA removes polar interferences, including sugars and organic acids
  • Graphitized carbon black (GCB) effectively remove pigments such as chlorophyll and carotenoids

For sample-matrix specific clean-up.

Kits
  • Complete kit solutions for use of both official methods: AOAC (2007.01) and CEN (EN 15662)
  • Conveniently packages both extraction and d-SPE clean-up products together

For added lab value addressing the need for simple protocols that require little training to implement.

The science behind DisQuE

The DisQuE procedure, following the QuEChERS protocol, is based on an initial single-phase extraction using up to 10 g or 15 g sample with acetonitrile at 1 mL acetonitrile per 1 g of sample. A liquid-liquid partition is created by adding excess salts and buffers to the extract. After centrifugation, the acetonitrile layer containing the analytes of interest is collected. A single d-SPE step can further reduce the sample matrix and remove excess water by mixing acetonitrile extract with anhydrous MgSO4 and primary secondary amine (PSA) sorbents. Additional sorbents like C18 or graphitized carbon black (GCB) can be added as needed for specific matrix clean-up. Alternately, the acetonitrile extract could be cleaned up using specific SPE in typical formats such as cartridges and plates. The final extract can be analyzed directly by either GC-MS or LC-MS/MS with a simple dilution.

Designed to improve pesticide analysis

QuEChERS sample preparation methods were originally developed to extract pesticides from fruits and vegetables. Combining an initial salting out liquid-liquid extraction with d-SPE clean-up, these methods have been shown to be very effective for multiresidue analysis of pesticides, veterinary drugs, and mycotoxins in a wide variety of food and agricultural products.  

Alternative clean-up using Oasis PRiME HLB

Typical QuEChERS d-SPE clean-up is not suitable for acidic compounds due to the presence of strong base PSA. In order to use same single analytical extraction and clean-up method to screen for acidic, neutral and basic pesticides, Oasis PRiME HLB is used following the QuEChERS extraction step.

Resources

Documents

Documents

What do you want to do?

What do you want to do?
Need Help?

Related

Sep-Pak Sample Extraction Products
Simplify protocols and increase recoveries with Sep-Pak sample extraction cartridges and plates, the most referenced SPE products for GC, HPLC and LC-MS analysis.

Oasis Sample Extraction Products
Meet your sample preparation needs, from simple matrix clean-up to more complex sample preparation challenges, with Oasis SPE products. Research our Oasis Solid-Phase Extraction plates and cartridges.

Offers and Discounts

Back To Top Back To Top

Key Steps in QuEChERS Extraction

The QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) technique is a widely embraced method in analytical chemistry, particularly for scrutinizing pesticides and contaminants in food and environmental samples. QuEChERS extraction encompasses a series of pivotal stages:

Sample Preparation Initially, the sample (e.g., fruits, vegetables, or various matrices) undergoes homogenization to create a uniform blend.

Extraction The homogenized sample is then mixed with an extraction solvent, frequently a blend of acetonitrile and water. This step is pivotal for dissolving the sought-after analytes and transferring them from the solid matrix to the liquid phase.

Salt Introduction To enhance extraction efficiency and analyte partitioning, salts like magnesium sulfate and sodium chloride are introduced. These salts aid in segregating the aqueous and organic phases while eliminating water from the mixture.

Agitation and Blending The sample undergoes vigorous agitation or mixing to ensure optimal extraction and the salting-out of analytes. This action facilitates the formation of distinct organic and aqueous phases.

Centrifugation The mixture is subsequently subjected to centrifugation, segregating it into two layers: an upper organic phase containing the extracted analytes and a lower aqueous phase.

Purification The organic phase often undergoes a purification process, utilizing dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) or similar methods, to eliminate impurities and enhance the quality of the extract.

Analysis The purified extract is now primed for analysis, typically via analytical techniques like gas chromatography (GC) or liquid chromatography (LC), coupled with mass spectrometry (MS). These methods facilitate the quantification and identification of target analytes.

QuEChERS extraction is esteemed for its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and efficacy in extracting a wide spectrum of analytes from intricate matrices. It has become a standard protocol in numerous laboratories, primarily for the assessment of pesticide residues in food samples, but its applicability extends to diverse domains, encompassing environmental and pharmaceutical analyses.

Role of DisQuE in QuEChERS Sample Preparation

Dispersive Solid-Phase Extraction (DisQuE) is a crucial part of the QuEChERS sample preparation technique in analytical chemistry. Its primary role is purifying the extract from QuEChERS, removing impurities and matrix components to improve sample quality. This involves adding a selective sorbent to the organic extract phase, capturing impurities. After centrifugation, the clean extract is separated, ready for precise analysis using techniques like gas or liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. DisQuE significantly enhances analytical accuracy and reliability, especially in applications such as pesticide residue analysis.