Simultaneous detection of topramezon, atrazine, and atrazine metabolite residues in environmental water by large-volume SPE-UPLC-MS/MS

An analytical method that combined large-volume solid-phase (Cleanert-PEP) extraction with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-UPLC-MS/MS) was established for the detection of atrazine, atrazine metabolites, and topramezon residues in environmental water. The results showed that atrazine, its metabolites, and topramezon had a good linear relationship within the linear range of 0.5-50 mu g/L, and the linear correlation coefficients of all compounds were r(2) >= 0.9989. At three spiked levels of 10, 100, and 1000 ng/L, the relative recoveries rate was between 77.1% and 114.1%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) between 0.9% and 6.8%. The limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) of all target compounds were between 0.4 and 3.0 ng/L, and between 1.2 and 10.0 ng/L, respectively. After optimisation, Cleanert-PEP was selected for pretreatment of environmental water, and its elution curve was studied, and the optimal elution volume was 6 mL. The analysis method was applied to surface water bodies around Tai'an City in Shandong Province, China, and none of the target metabolites were detected. This method has the advantages of high sensitivity, good stability, simple operation, and high efficiency. It can be used to quantify topramezon, atrazine, and atrazine metabolite residual in water samples and to investigate their behaviour in environmental water.

Automated summary

An analytical method combining large-volume solid-phase extraction with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was established for the detection of atrazine, atrazine metabolites, and topramezon residues in environmental water. The method showed high sensitivity, good stability, simple operation, and high efficiency.