Analysis of Triazole-Based Metabolites in Plant Materials Using Differential Mobility Spectrometry to Improve LC/MS/MS Selectivity

Triazole-derivative metabolites can occur in plant and animal materials and in water. Due to their physical-chemical properties, their analysis in complex matrixes is very difficult. The objective of this work was to develop a method for the analysis of these analytes that is easy to handle, quick, and enables quantification at a residue level of 0.01 mg/kg. Using the LC-differential mobility spectrometry/MS/MS system, cleanup and derivatization processes became unnecessary. For more than 10 representative plant materials it could be shown that the new method is valid and reproducible, thus leading to accurate and reliable results.