Abstract:

Purpose: To develop a rapid method for the determination of residues of prochloraz and its metabolite,
2,4,6-trichlorophenol, in fruits using matrix dispersive solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography with tandem mass
spectrometry (GC-MS-MS). Methods: Samples were extracted with acetonitrile, cleaned by matrix dispersive solid-phase
extraction using PSA and C18, detected by GC-MS-MS under multiple reaction monitoring mode, and quantified by an
external standard method using matrix-match standard solution. Results: In the linear range of 0.004-0.400 mg/kg, the
correlation coefficients for prochloraz and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol were 0.999 4 and 0.999 2, respectively. Their average
recoveries at spiked levels of 0.01, 0.02 and 0.10 mg/kg were 80.1%–101.5% and 79.0%-97.4% with relative standard
deviations of 2.8%–6.8% and 2.0%–6.0%, respectively, and their limits of quantification (LOQ) (RSN = 10) were 0.004 and
0.005 mg/kg, respectively. Conclusions: The proposed method is simple and sensitive with a wide range of measurement,
and can be suitable for the analysis of prochloraz and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol residues in fruits.

Key words: gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS), matrix dispersive solid-phase extraction, prochloraz, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, fruit, residue