Rapid Determination of Paclobutrazol in Fruits by QuEChERS Cleanup and Gas Chromatography-tandem Mass Spectrometry

In this study, an analytical method was established for the determination of paclobutrazol in fruits (peach, leechee and cherry) using the Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) cleanup and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The paclobutrazol of fruits sample was extracted with acetonitrile, removed the water with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and sodium chloride, cleaned up with dispersive method on primary secondary amine and graphitized carbon black, and detected by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry under multiple reaction monitoring mode. The qualitative results were obtained based on the characteristic m/z. 236>125 and m/z 236>167, and the quantitation results were on the intension of the characteristic m/z 236>125. The recoveries of the paclobutrazol were in the range from 86. 7% to 130% at the spike levels of 0. 005, 0. 05 and 0. 5 mg/kg into three fruits matrixes, the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were between 2. 0% and 19. 6%, and the limits of detection were 0. 4, 0. 5 and 0. 5 mu g/kg. The method is simple, quick, safe, reproducible and applicable to confirm paclobutrazol residue in the fruits sample.