Multi-pesticides analysis in honeysuckle and chrysanthemums based on nano-material modified QuEChERs coupled with HPLC-MS/MS

Considering the matrix characteristics of honeysuckle and chrysanthemum, a comprehensive and systematic extraction and purification processes study for pesticide residue analysis in these two Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) were conducted based on a nanomaterial-modified QuEChERS method. For honeysuckle, a combination of 60 mg FeN-MWCNTs and 60 mg PSA provided the best purification effect. For chrysanthemum, 70 mg GCB and 30 mg PSA achieved the optimal results. Our initial exploration into the purification mechanism of the nanomaterials revealed that micropores and smaller mesopores in the adsorbents play a crucial role, while amino groups primarily govern the adsorption process, with matrix impurities adhering to the surface of the nano-adsorbents. The limit of quantification (LOQ) for honeysuckle in this method ranged from 0.12 to 18.86 µg/kg, with recovery rates between 60.1 % and 128.6 %, and relative standard deviations (RSD) less than 12 %. For chrysanthemum, the LOQ was between 0.10 and 8.56 µg/kg, and the recovery rates for 27 pesticides were in the range of 61.6 % to 118.9 %. Applying this method, 105 honeysuckle and 111 chrysanthemum market samples were analyzed, detecting five pesticides in 18 honeysuckle and 12 chrysanthemum samples respectively. This study offers a targeted strategy for the development of analytical methods for trace substances in complex matrices.