A sensitive, simple and reliable analytical method based on a modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, safe sample preparation and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection was developed for the simultaneous determination of amicarbazone and its two major metabolites desamino amicarbazone and isopropyl-2-hydroxy-desamino amicarbazone residues in grains (rice, wheat, corn, buckwheat) and soybean. Several parameters, including liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry conditions, extraction approaches and the adsorbents for clean-up, which might influence the accuracy of the method, were extensively investigated. The established method was further validated by determining the linearity (R(2) > 0.99), fortified recovery (79-118%), precision (1-12%) and sensitivity (limit of quantification, 5 μg/kg for amicarbazone and desamino amicarbazone, and 10 μg/kg for isopropyl-2-hydroxy-desamino amicarbazone). Finally, the established method was successfully applied to determine the residues of amicarbazone and its metabolites in 49 real samples of grain and soybean.
Keywords: Amicarbazone; Grains; Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry; Metabolites.
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