Validation and Application of UPLC-MS/MS Method to Analysis of Glyphosate and its Metabolites in Water

A method was developed to determine glyphosate and their metabolites in water. The widespread use of this herbicide in agricultural activities worldwide, despite the reported adverse effects on both the environment and health, is a cause for concern and makes it necessary to monitor its presence through a method that guarantees the determination at trace levels. A direct extraction of the analytes with phosphate buffer was performed with subsequent derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate. The quantification was determined by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer. The method was validated through the following parameters: selectivity, detection and quantification limits, linearity, accuracy, precision and uncertainty. The average recoveries ranged between 94.08 and 103.31%. Additionally, detection limits from 0.396 to 0.433 & mu;g/L, and the quantification limit was 5.0 & mu;g/L for all the analytes evaluated. In terms of linearity and precision, the results obtained were in the ranges considered adequate (R-2 & GE; 0.99 and CV & LE; 20%), the estimated expanded uncertainty was 12.95, 11.15 and 13.83% for glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid and glufosinate, respectively. This method was successfully applied for the determination of the target analytes in irrigation water samples, detecting concentrations of aminomethylphosphonic acid over limit detection for some sampling sites.

Automated summary

A method for determining glyphosate and its metabolites in water was developed. Despite concerns about the adverse effects of this herbicide on the environment and health, it is widely used in agricultural activities worldwide. The method involves direct extraction with phosphate buffer and subsequent derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate, followed by analysis using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The method was validated through various parameters such as selectivity, detection and quantification limits, linearity, accuracy, precision, and uncertainty. The method was successfully applied to determine the target analytes in irrigation water samples, with some sampling sites showing concentrations of aminomethylphosphonic acid above the detection limit.