Interview with Prof. Amadeo Fern谩ndez-Alba
Vol.11 Issue 2 / Interview 1鈥淎lways a top priority for instrumentation in my lab.鈥�
We had the privilege of interviewing Professor Amadeo Fern谩ndez-Alba from the University of Almer铆a, Spain. As the Head of the European Reference Laboratory for Pesticide Residues in Fruits and Vegetables, he shared his expert insights on food pesticides, SFC analysis, and more.
Professor Amadeo Fern谩ndez-Alba, thank you very much for spending some time for this interview. First, could you introduce yourself and provide a brief overview of your background in food safety and pesticide residue analysis?
I am a Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Almeria and the Head of the European Reference Laboratory for Pesticide Residues in Fruits and Vegetables.
What regulations exist regarding pesticide residues in the European region?
Regarding Maximum Residue Levels, there is only one harmonized regulation for all EU countries: Regulation 396/2005. This regulation, together with the EU DG SANTE guidelines for analytical quality control, forms the cornerstone of pesticide residue control in the EU.
Why are food regulations important in the European region? Among them, which foods have the strictest regulations?
I believe that food control for residues or contaminants is highly relevant everywhere. In the context of the EU, it is important to recognize the significance of environmental considerations, as well as the potential long-term health effects that may arise. Additionally, the implementation of advanced instrumentation in routine control is now allowing us to detect residues that previously went unnoticed.
The regulation applies to all foods, with significant variability in Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) depending on the type of commodity (food basket) and the toxicity of the specific compound. There are also more restrictive regulations specifically for baby food.
What are the benefits of using SFC for this analysis?
We consider several benefits at different levels. From the perspective of reverse-phase chromatography, it is similar to traditional liquid chromatography. However, (i) organic waste is significantly reduced by using CO2, (ii) matrix interferences are often minimized due to differences in retention times, (iii) analysis costs are lowered, and (iv) the use of chiral columns is greatly facilitated, as they exert less impact on the stationary phase.
What was the background of the joint development of the SFC LCMS method?
Our initial goal was to reduce the organic waste produced in the laboratory, aligning with the current trend toward green analytical methods, which are increasingly polar.Additionally, highly polar compounds can be challenging to evaluate when using water in the mobile phase.
Can you give us an overview of the joint development of the SFC LCMS method?
Our first positive observation was that method development did not require anything special, being quite similar to conventional LC. We then discovered interesting applications with medium-fat commodities, where interferences during chromatography were avoided. Lastly, we found it to be highly effective for chiral separations. And,of course, a significant reduction in the solvents typically used in LC.
What are the benefits of using this method in terms of safety and quality?
Regarding quality, it must be noted that it also depends on the expertise of the operator, but in general, it fully meets the requirements of ISO 17025. As for safety, I believe this was addressed earlier, considering this method as part of green analytical chemistry.
What challenges did you face in this project, and how did you overcome them?
One potential challenge could be adjusting the mindset regarding retention times, as they follow different rules compared to reverse-phase LC, with compounds not eluting in the same order of polarity. This may seem unfamiliar at first, but it is easily overcome with short initial experience.Secondly, the setup for supercritical fluid chromatography is different, but given the robustness of the instrument, this does not pose any significant concerns.
Could you tell us why you chose Shimadzu as your partner when you started this project?
There are two key aspects that stand out in my opinion.First, the robustness of the instrumentation, and second,Shimadzu鈥檚 commitment to not only short-term improvements but also medium- to long-term advancements. For me, this provides a solid foundation for introducing this equipment into routine laboratories.
In what direction do you think pesticide residue regulations will evolve?
Basically, the widespread introduction of miniaturized and automated devices in the laboratory has accelerated analysis time, reduced organic waste, and minimized the handling steps involved in analytical methods.
In that context, what regulations do you think SFC will need to comply with in the future?
In my opinion, transitioning to microflow SFC is a very promising option.
Thank you for sharing your insights and feedback. We are committed to exceeding your expectations moving forward. Thank you very much.
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Beyond the Interview:
Professor Fern谩ndez-Alba鈥檚 Visit Deepens CollaborationAs a continuation of our recent interview with Professor Amadeo Fern谩ndez-Alba, we were honored to welcome him to Shimadzu鈥檚 global headquarters in Kyoto in March 2025.
During his visit, Professor Fern谩ndez-Alba gave a seminar titled 鈥淪FC-LC-MS/MS and GC/MS in Pesticide Analysis,鈥� where he introduced advanced approaches to pesticide residue analysis. His presentation highlighted the use of SFC-LC-MS/MS and GC/MS techniques, including the application of hydrogen gas as an alternative carrier鈥攔eflecting years of research and innovation in the field.
Following the seminar, Professor Fern谩ndez-Alba engaged in technical discussions with Shimadzu engineers and toured product exhibitions at the Science Plaza, further strengthening the collaborative relationship and paving the way for future joint initiatives.
鈻燩rof. Dr. Amadeo Fern谩ndez-Alba has been working since 2006 as Director of the European Union Reference Laboratory for Pesticide Residues in Fruits and Vegetables at the University of Almeria, Spain.
He is member of official organizations such as the Spanish Association for Standardization, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN); he is vice-president of the Evaluation of Education and Environmental Protection and he is member of the Committee of the Spanish Society of Mass Spectrometry. He also participates in the coordination of the Analytical Quality Control Guidelines, DG SANTE.
He has been involved in more than 370 scientific publications and 426 posters presentation mainly focus in the analysis of pesticide residues by mass spectrometry techniques. He has presented more than 50 oral communications in different Conferences and Workshops. He is author/co-author of 17 book chapters and he is editor of 6 books about control of organic contaminants, quality control and environment.
