Optimization of gas chromatography–single quadrupole mass spectrometry conditions for multiresidue analysis of pesticides in grapes in compliance to EU-MRLs

► A multiresidue method was optimized for 47 pesticides in grapes. ► Single quadrupole GC–MS was used in SIM mode. ► LOQ of each compound was in compliance with EU-MRL. ► Recoveries at 0.01 and 0.02mgkg−1 were within 74–116%. ► The method was successful for analysis of incurred residues. A single quadrupole GC–MS method was optimized for multiresidue determination of 47 pesticides in grapes with limit of quantifications of each compound in compliance with the EU-MRL requirements. Sample preparation involved extraction of 10g sample with 10ml ethyl acetate (+10g sodium sulphate) by homogenization at 15,000rpm followed by centrifugation at 3000rpm. The supernatant was cleaned by dispersive solid phase extraction with primary secondary amine and acidified with 0.1% formic acid. Residues were estimated in selected ion monitoring mode with programmable temperature vaporizer-large volume injection (8μl). All the GC and MS parameters were thoroughly optimized to achieve satisfactory linearity (R2>0.99) within 0.01–0.25mgkg−1 with minimum matrix interferences. Recoveries at 0.01 and 0.02mgkg−1 were within 67–120% with associated precision RSD below 19%. The method was successfully applied for analysis of the real world samples for incurred residues.