Development of validated LC-MS/MS method for imidacloprid and acetamiprid in parsley and rocket and evaluation of their dissipation dynamics

ABSTRACT

Fast and efficient method based on quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe followed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for acetamiprid and imidacloprid residues determination in parsley and rocket was developed and validated. Linearity (R²) ranged from 0.996 to 0.999. Accuracy ranged from 95.9 to 99.1%. Precision was <11%. Limit of quantification was 2.8–10.3 µg/kg. Matrix effect was evaluated. Dissipation of acetamiprid and imidacloprid in parsley and rocket was investigated under open field conditions. The dissipation behavior of both compounds followed first-order kinetics. Half-lives (t_1/2) were 2.68 and 4.24 days with dissipation rate (k) values of 0.25 and 0.165 days⁻¹ for acetamiprid; 0.24 (in parsley) and 0.25 (in rocket) days⁻¹ with k values of 0.636 (in parsley) and 0.718 (in rocket) days for imidacloprid. Preharvest interval values were 5.53 and 1.42 days for acetamiprid; 2.5 and 0.49 days for imidacloprid in parsley and rocket, respectively. Residues of both compounds were searched in real samples. None of the real samples violated maximum residues limits of the European Commission regulations.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Acetamiprid
• analytical method validation
• brassica vegetable
• dissipation dynamic
• imidacloprid
• liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr. Moustafa Elagamy, Promising Research Center in Biological Control and Agricultural Information, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia, for his valuable help in parsley and rocket plantation and maintenance.