Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction of Pesticide Residues in Cannabis Samples

A headspace solid-phase microextraction method combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was evaluated for the extraction and analysis of selected pesticides, namely alachlor, β-hexachlorocyclohexane, bromopropylate, carbaryl, diazinon, linuron, polychlorobiphenyl 209, permethrine and simazine in cannabis samples. Using a 100 μm PDMS fibre, compounds were directly extracted in the headspace mode at 150 °C for 5 min and desorption was performed in the GC injector in the splitless mode at 280 °C for 3 min. Pesticide analysis was achieved and method repeatability, given as the coefficient of variation, ranged between 2.4% for bromopropylate and 12.6% for linuron. T he limits of detection obtained using single ion monitoring (SIM) were between 0.014 and 0.83 mg/kg, depending on the pesticide