Extraction Kits
The QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) method was developed in the early 2000s for the analysis of pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables (high aqueous content matrices). Even though QuEChERS remains the mainstream approach to sample preparation in pesticide residue analysis, the scope of its analytical applicability has expanded into natural contaminants, veterinary drugs, mycotoxins, and other fields.
The principal action of the QuEChERS method is to select a sorbent material that will interact with particular matrix impurities in order to remove the impurity and leave behind the analytes of interest to be analyzed.
The first step of QuEChERS is sample extraction using acetonitrile followed by a salting out step to push the analytes of interest from the aqueous phase into the organic solvent. Agilent’s QuEChERS extraction kits feature pre-weighed anhydrous salts in sealed packets that allow salts to be added quickly and efficiently after the organic solvent has been added to the sample. Both unbuffered salts (QuEChERS Original method) and buffered salts (Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) and European Standard (EN) methods) are offered to accommodate all method protocols.
Agilent’s QuEChERS extraction kits can be purchased as salt packets only, salt packets with 50 mL polypropylene extraction tubes and caps, or salt packets with 50 mL polypropylene extraction tubes, caps, and ceramic homogenizers (CH).
The principal action of the QuEChERS method is to select a sorbent material that will interact with particular matrix impurities in order to remove the impurity and leave behind the analytes of interest to be analyzed.
The first step of QuEChERS is sample extraction using acetonitrile followed by a salting out step to push the analytes of interest from the aqueous phase into the organic solvent. Agilent’s QuEChERS extraction kits feature pre-weighed anhydrous salts in sealed packets that allow salts to be added quickly and efficiently after the organic solvent has been added to the sample. Both unbuffered salts (QuEChERS Original method) and buffered salts (Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) and European Standard (EN) methods) are offered to accommodate all method protocols.
Agilent’s QuEChERS extraction kits can be purchased as salt packets only, salt packets with 50 mL polypropylene extraction tubes and caps, or salt packets with 50 mL polypropylene extraction tubes, caps, and ceramic homogenizers (CH).
Product Details
Features
- The choice of the original unbuffered method salts or the buffered (AOAC and EN) method salts should be based on the expected pH of the final extract and the pH sensitivity of the target analytes.
- Unbuffered salts work well for most analytes
- Buffered salts are used to maintain the necessary pH that will produce more accurate results for pH-sensitive pesticides.
- The AOAC salts are somewhat acidic and buffer the final extract to a pH of around 4.75
- The EN salts are a more neutral and buffer the extract to 5.0–5.5.
- Ceramic homogenizers break up salt agglomerates, promoting consistent sample extraction and increasing product recovery during extraction and dispersion.
How It Works
Applications