Determination of fungicide residues in fruits and vegetables by liquid chromatography–atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography (LC) method for the quantitative determination of five fungicide residues (dichloran, flutriafol, o-phenylphenol, prochloraz and tolclofos methyl) in oranges, lemons, bananas, peppers, chards and onions is described. The residues were extracted by matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) using C8. Quantitative analysis was performed by isocratic LC coupled to quadrupole mass spectrometer using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization in the negative ionization mode. The limit of quantification was 0.01 mg kg−1 for flutriafol, o-phenylphenol and dichloran, and 0.1 mg kg−1 for prochloraz and tolclofos methyl. The MSPD method is also suitable for LC–UV analysis but higher limits of quantification (between 1 and 5 mg kg−1) were obtained. Validation of the method was performed between 0.01 and 25 mg kg−1. Recoveries for fungicides ranged from 52.5 to 91.1% with relative standard deviations between 6.1 and 11.9%. The method was applied to the determination of residues in samples taken from agricultural cooperatives. The fungicides most often detected were o-phenylphenol and prochloraz.