Simultaneous Determination of Prochloraz and Three Metabolites in Fruits and Vegetables by Liquid Chromatography – Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

An analytical method was established to simultaneously determine prochloraz and three metabolites N-propyl-N-[2-(2,4,6-trichlorophenoxy)ethyl] urea(BTS44595), N-formyl-N-propyl-N-[2-(2,4,6-trichlorophenoxy)ethyl] urea(BTS44596), and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol(BTS45186) in fruits and vegetables. The analysis was performed by liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in the positive and negative ion-switching multiple reaction modes (MRM). The analytes were extracted using acetonitrile. The extract was further purified by dispersive solid phase extraction. The linearity of the matrix-matched calibration curves was verified with correlation coefficients (r) greater than 0.9975. Recoveries in fruits and vegetables were conducted at four appropriate concentrations. The average recoveries of the method ranged from 80% to 105%, and the relative standard deviations were less than 15%. The limits of detection and quantification of the analytes in fruits and vegetables were from 0.1 to 1 mu g/kg and 0.5 to 5 mu g/kg, respectively. The method was validated and demonstrated to be suitable for the determination of prochloraz and three metabolites in fruits and vegetables.