Quechers Method Enhances Detection Of Harmful Compounds In Food

In today's world, group are progressively prioritizing their wellness and well-being, pinch regular exercises and calorie-tracking apps becoming nan caller norm. People are truthful willing successful incorporating highly nutritious nutrient items specified arsenic fruits and vegetables into their fare plans. However, these foods-owing to contamination arsenic good arsenic owed to definite cooking methods specified arsenic heating, smoking, grilling, roasting, and frying-may incorporate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (hydrophobic integrated compounds comprising aggregate fused aromatic rings) and their derivatives. PAHs comprise immoderate carcinogenic compounds, posing important risks to quality health.

In this context, it is indispensable to extract, detect, and analyse PAHs successful food. Traditional PAH extraction techniques, including solid-phase, liquid-liquid, and accelerated solvent extraction, are cost-effective but time-consuming, environmentally unfriendly, and require extended manual work. Recently, scientists person projected nan QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) method to streamline and accelerate nan extraction of integrated compounds. This caller method reduces extraction time, improves accuracy and betterment rates, and simplifies sample preparation, making it safe, reliable, and businesslike for PAH analysis.

In a caller study, a squad of researchers from nan Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, led by Professor Joon-Goo Lee, utilized nan QuEChERS method to find 8 PAHs (Benzo[a]anthracene, Chrysene, Benzo[b]fluoranthene, Benzo[k]fluoranthene, Benzo[a]pyrene, Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, Dibenz[a,h]anthracene, and Benzo[g,h,i]perylene successful food. Their findings were made disposable online connected 5 June 2025 and were published successful Volume 34, Issue 12 of nan diary Food Science and Biotechnology successful August 2025.

The researchers extracted PAHs utilizing acetonitrile. This was followed by purification via different methods involving various combinations of sorbents. The researchers validated nan QuEChERS extraction method done a number of nutrient matrices, uncovering that nan calibration curves for nan 8 PAHs demonstrated singular linearity, ­with nan R2 worth exceeding 0.99.

Further, nan state chromatography‒mass spectrometry study revealed that nan limits of discovery ranged from 0.006 to 0.035 µg/kg, while nan limits of quantification ranged from 0.019 to 0.133 µg/kg. Notably, recoveries ranged from 86.3 to 109.6% astatine 5 µg/kg, 87.7 to 100.1% astatine 10 µg/kg, and 89.6 to 102.9% astatine 20 µg/kg, pinch precision values betwixt 0.4 and 6.9% successful each nutrient matrices. 

Prof. Lee reveals, "This method not only simplifies nan analytical process but besides demonstrates precocious ratio successful discovery compared to accepted methods. It tin beryllium applied to a wide scope of nutrient matrices."

In nan business sector, this method could beryllium utilized for inspecting nutrient products for information management. Furthermore, it is expected to lead to costs simplification and improved information for workers.

"Our investigation tin amended nationalist wellness by providing safe food. It besides reduces nan usage and emanation of hazardous chemicals successful laboratory testing," concludes Prof. Lee.

Overall, this study showcases that nan developed PAH study method based connected nan QuEChERS attack is environmentally friendly, rapid, and accurate.