Thermo Scientific Dionex IonPac CS21-Fast-4µm ion exchange column

Thermo Fisher Scientific is providing laboratories performing food safety analysis with an ion chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (IC-MS/MS) workflow solution for regulatory-compliant analysis of quaternary ammonium pesticides (Quats).

The Thermo Scientific Dionex IonPac CS21-Fast-4µm ion exchange column enables scientists to easily determine and quantify the four cationic pesticides: diquat, paraquat, mepiquat and chlormequat. These highly polar, permanently charged chemicals are challenging to analyse, and have, until now, required complex workflows that are prone to quantitation errors.

To meet regulatory requirements across Europe, Asia and the Americas, and promote consumer safety, it is paramount for food safety laboratories to correctly determine the residue levels of these pesticides in or on food products. Ion chromatography has an advantage over other technologies, Thermo Fisher says, in that it causes fewer matrix effects, and delivers good retention and separation of ionic species.

When coupled with the Thermo Scientific TSQ Altis Plus triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, food safety testing laboratories should benefit from robust Quat analysis that meets regulatory requirements while improving laboratory productivity. The IonPac CS21 and TSQ Altis Plus complement the existing Anionic Pesticide Explorer (APX) solution from Thermo Fisher Scientific, providing total coverage for all polar, highly polar, ionic and ionisable food contaminants in one IC-MS/MS system. Together, the system and column can determine and quantify not only Quats, but also glyphosate and its metabolites, and related compounds.