About the Establishment of the QuEChERS Method

Before QuEChERS born

In 1989, Barker et al. first proposed a matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) technique for simultaneously dispersing and extracting solid and semi-solid samples. The method grinds a solid-phase extraction material coated with various polymers such as C18 with a sample, packs it as packing, and elutes various analytes with different solvents.

The technology concentrates the process of sample homogenization, extraction, purification, etc. in the traditional sample pretreatment; reduces the steps of tissue soaking, sedimentation, centrifugation, pH adjustment, and sample transfer. The loss of the sample is avoided, and it is gradually widely used in various fields.

QuEChERS born

In 2003, the US Department of Agriculture Food and Drug Administration, and the Slovenian Institute of Public Health jointly developed a new sample pretreatment technology based on MSPD technology. Anastassiades and Lehotay proposed solid phase extraction and matrix solid phase dispersion technology.

The detection method is a sample pretreatment technology that is quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe, called the QuEChERS method. It is essentially the combination and derivation of solid phase extraction and MSPD technology.

Buffered QuEChERS

In 2004, in order to improve the recovery rate of certain alkali-sensitive pesticides, Lehotay et al. proposed a buffered QuEChERS method, in which acetonitrile containing 0.1% acetic acid is used as an extract and anhydrous sodium acetate is used as a salting-out agent.