Pyrimethanil is a broad-spectrum fungicide. As grapevines are susceptible to fungal pathogens, large-scale viticulture operations apply pyrimethanil as part of a mixed treatment. Although chemical analysis of wines post-fermentation finds low to undetectable amounts of residue, pyrimethanil is a suspected human carcinogen and chronic exposure can result in multi-organ toxicity in some animal species. The US FDA and EU have established a maximum permissible level of 5 μg/mL pyrimethanil in finished wine products to balance potential health risks with a sustainable wine industry.

Standard methods for detecting pyrimethanil in bottled wines include laboratory-based GC, LC, and immunoassays. Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer) integrates detection, data processing, and results sharing into a user-friendly system for high-throughput, onsite testing. In this application, trace detection of pyrimethanil in wine with Misa requires few laboratory supplies and minimal sample processing, yet returns rapid results.

To establish a reference spectrum, pure pyrimethanil standard at a concentration of 10 μg/mL in ethanol was analyzed with Au NPs. The unique SERS spectrum shown in Figure 1 can be used to create a library entry for pyrimethanil.

Overlaid baseline-corrected Au NP SERS spectra acquired for the concentration range of test extracts demonstrates detection down to 100 ng/mL (Figure 2), a level significantly lower than the maximum permissible levels for pyrimethanil residue in wine.

Detection of pyrimethanil in the field

Fill a vial halfway with white wine. Using a pipette, add 10 drops of chloroform to this vial. Cap and shake very well to mix, and let rest for at least 5 minutes to allow layers to separate. Carefully remove a portion of the top layer with a clean pipette, and place 4 drops of this solution into a clean vial. Evaporate the liquid on a hot plate. Fill this vial halfway full with Au NPs and add 1 drop of NaCl, then cap and shake. Insert into vial attachment on Misa for measurement.

Misa provides a highly-sensitive, cost-effective solution for detecting pyrimethanil in wine. With Misa’s portability, levels of pesticide residue can be rapidly and reliably assessed in wineries during the production process, as well as in commercial storage, shipping, and receiving facilities.