Making the case for QuEChERS-gas chromatography of drugs

Over the past decade, QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) has evolved into one of the most widely used extraction techniques for residue analysis. Since its inception, this method is considered particularly adept in the extraction of polar and basic compounds, and hence the majority of methods developed using QuEChERS involve extracting pesticides and contaminants from various matrices, particularly fruits, vegetables, and other food products. Combining a liquid–liquid extraction and dispersive solid-phase extraction cleanup, QuEChERS provides a clean sample for analysis by gas chromatography or liquid chromatography, and is therefore ideal for samples with complex matrices. This study describes recent QuEChERS research with gas chromatography (QuEChERS–GC), focusing on areas beyond pesticide extraction from food, and provides insight into possible new applications of the technique in forensic science and drug extraction.