Development and validation of a method for the analysis of trifludimoxazin, picarbutrazox and pyraziflumid residues in cereals, vegetables and fruits using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive method for the determination of three new pesticides (trifludimoxazin, pyraziflumid and picarbutrazox) in cereals, vegetables and fruits samples has been developed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The analytes were extracted using acetonitrile containing 1% formic acid, and then the extracts were purified using primary secondary amine and octadecylsilane. The compounds were eluted in <3.5 min using an electrospray ionization source in positive mode. Good linearities (R-2 > 0.9916) were acquired for the analytes in all matrices. The limit of detection and quantification were 0.05-5 mu g kg(-1) and 10 mu g kg(-1) for all the three target compounds, respectively. The recoveries were 74.4-105.1% and the relative standard deviations values were lower than 12.4% at three spiked levels (10, 100 and 500 mu g kg(-1)). The results indicated that the method is reliable for monitoring the three pesticides in cereals, vegetables and fruits.