Rapid determination of fosetyl-aluminum residues in lettuce by liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

J AOAC Int. 2003 Jul-Aug;86(4):832-8.

Abstract

This paper describes a new method for the sensitive and selective determination of fosetyl-aluminum (Al) residues in vegetable samples. The method involves extraction with water by using a high-speed blender and subsequent injection of the 5-fold diluted extract into the liquid chromatograph. Fosetyl-Al is determined by liquid chromatography with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry after the addition of tetrabutylammonium acetate as the ion-pairing reagent. The method has been used to assay lettuce samples spiked at 2 and 0.2 mg/kg. Recoveries were satisfactory, with mean values of 98 and 106%, respectively, and relative standard deviations were < 10%. The limit of quantitation was 0.2 mg/kg, and the limit of detection was as low as 0.05 mg/kg. Matrix-matched calibration was used for quantitation, and the addition of an internal standard improved repeatability. The developed method allows the accurate and rapid determination of low levels of fosetyl-Al residues in lettuce with very little sample handling and good sensitivity; it was shown to be robust by the analysis of almost 100 samples.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods*
  • Drug Residues / analysis*
  • Food Contamination
  • Fungicides, Industrial / analysis*
  • Lactuca / chemistry*
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / analysis*
  • Quality Control
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods*

Substances

  • Fungicides, Industrial
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • fosetyl-Al