A Method for Quantifying Azoxystrobin Residues in Grapes and Soil Using GC with Electron Capture Detection

Abstract

A relatively simple method for the determination of azoxystrobin residues in grapes and soil using gas chromatography equipped with electron capture detector (GC-ECD) is described. Samples were extracted with acetone, and further partitioned with dichloromethane and petroleum ether. The extracts were then cleaned up in a glass clean-up column filled with active charcoal and silica gel, and eluted with dichloromethane/ethyl acetate (70:30, v/v). The eluate was collected and concentrated for GC-ECD analysis. The results showed good linearity (r2 = 0.9998) over the concentration range of 6.25–400 ng mL−1. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of azoxystrobin were 3 and 10 ng mL−1. Recovery from soil and grape samples was in the range of 83.52–107.36 and 82.21–107.31%, with corresponding relative standard deviations (RSD) of 5.21–9.11 and 4.53–5.90% for the three fortified levels. Inter- and intra-day RSDs were in the range of 0.87–6.76 and 2.01–5.46%. The accuracy and sensitivity of the GC-ECD method was independently confirmed by LC and GC-MS. It was demonstrated that the proposed method was simple and efficient, and particularly suitable for detecting azoxystrobin residues in grapes and soil.