The Problem
Green plant matrices (leaves, stems, herbs, leafy vegetables) are loaded with chlorophyll, waxes, and co-extractives that wreck LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS analysis. Signal suppression, elevated baselines, and inconsistent quantification are the predictable outcomes of inadequate cleanup.
Chlorophyll is particularly destructive in GC: it's non-volatile and thermally unstable. Residues accumulate in inlets and columns, creating active sites that degrade analytes, distort peak shapes, and shorten column life. If you're analysing pesticides in high-chlorophyll matrices without proper pigment removal, you're burning through columns and compromising data.
Why Not Graphitized Carbon Black?
GCB has been the default for pigment removal in QuEChERS workflows. It removes chlorophyll effectively. The problem: GCB also retains planar pesticides. Compounds like chlorothalonil, hexachlorobenzene, and other flat-structured molecules show poor recoveries because GCB can't distinguish between planar pigments and planar analytes.
You lose the compounds you're trying to measure.
ChloroFiltr®: The Fix
UCT's ChloroFiltr® is a polymer-based sorbent designed specifically to eliminate chlorophyll from QuEChERS acetonitrile extracts without compromising planar pesticide recoveries. It targets pigments selectively, leaving your analytes intact.
It's been validated across studies analysing hundreds of pesticides in high-chlorophyll matrices, consistently delivering:
- Complete chlorophyll removal
- Reliable recovery of planar and non-planar pesticides
- Cleaner extracts that protect instrument hardware
Available Formats
- dSPE (dispersive solid-phase extraction tubes)
- Push-through cartridges
- SpinFiltr® centrifuge devices
Pick the format that fits your workflow. Same sorbent chemistry, different throughput options.
Why Chromatography Direct
The home of chromatography consumables. We stock UCT's full ChloroFiltr® range across all formats, plus the complementary QuEChERS salts and cleanup sorbents you need for complete pesticide residue workflows. High-quality consumables at unrivalled prices, making your lab budget go further.
We're so much more than chromatography. Pesticide residue testing, food safety, agricultural monitoring: if your lab needs reliable sample prep for complex matrices, we supply it. Specialists who understand the chemistry, not generalists selling from a catalogue. Talk to us about method-specific bundles and bulk pricing.
References
- Demard, E.; Schumann, R.; van Santen, E.; Diepenbrock, L. Degradation and Residual Efficacy of Insecticides in Citrus Under Protective Screen (CUPS) Differ from Traditional Citrus Orchard. J. Econ. Entomol. 2025, toaf253. DOI: 10.1093/jee/toaf253.
- Pszczolińska, K.; Wilk, M.; Kaczmarek, Ł.; Baranowska, I.; Nowak, M. The Pesticide Residue Analysis in Commodities with High Chlorophyll Content. J. Sep. Sci. 2022, 45, 149–165. DOI: 10.1002/jssc.202100304.
- Walorczyk, S.; Drożdżyński, D.; Kierzek, R. Determination of pesticide residues in samples of green minor crops by gas chromatography and ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry. Talanta 2015, 132, 197–204. DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2014.11.066.
- Perestrelo, R.; Silva, P.; Porto-Figueira, P.; Pereira, J. A. M.; Silva, C.; Medina, S.; Câmara, J. S. QuEChERS: Fundamentals, Relevant Improvements, Applications and Future Trends. Anal. Chim. Acta 2019, 1070, 1–28. DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2019.02.036