Determination of tridemorph and other fungicide residues in fruit samples by liquid chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS–MS) method for the determination of tridemorph and other pre- and post-harvest fungicides (carbendazim, thiabendazole, imazalil, propiconazole and bitertanol) in banana and orange samples has been developed and validated. The sample preparation was a simple extraction step with acetone using a high-speed blender prior to the injection of the five-fold diluted extract into the LC system with no other previous sample pre-treatment. Quantification was carried out using a matrix matched calibration curve which was linear in the range of 1–100 ng ml −1 for all the compounds. The limit of quantification was 0.05 mg kg −1 for all studied compounds, whereas limits of detection ranged between 0.005 and 0.025 mg kg −1 (0.01 mg kg −1 for tridemorph). Recoveries for tridemorph from spiked banana and orange samples at 0.05 and 1 mg kg −1 were satisfactory, with values between 83 and 99% and relative standard deviations (R.S.D.s) lower than 13% ( n = 5). For the other fungicides, recoveries between 75 and 95% with R.S.D.s lower than 12% were obtained. The developed method has been applied to the determination of selected fungicides in real samples of bananas and oranges from different origin. Thiabendazole and imazalil have been detected in almost all orange samples analyzed, and in around of 30% of banana samples. Bitertanol residues exceeded the maximum residue level (0.05 mg kg −1) in three banana samples while tridemorph was only detected in one sample.