Total determination of residual flutolanil and its metabolites in livestock products and seafood using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

ABSTRACT

We have developed a simple and sensitive LC-MS/MS analytical method for the determination of residual flutolanil and its principal metabolites, including α,α,α-trifluoro-3′-hydroxy-o-toluanilide (M-4) and its conjugates, in livestock and seafood products. Both flutolanil and its metabolites contain the 2-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (2-TFMBA) moiety. In this method, flutolanil and its metabolites are converted to 2-TFMBA by hydrolysis. The method involves direct hydrolysis with sodium hydroxide at 200°C, acidification, partitioning into a mixture of ethyl acetate-n-hexane (1:9, v/v), clean-up using a strong anion exchange cartridge (InertSep SAX), and then quantification using LC-MS/MS. The optimal conditions for the complete hydrolysis of flutolanil to 2-TFMBA are an incubation time of 6 h and a temperature of 200°C. The developed method was evaluated using seven types of food: bovine samples of muscle, fat, liver and milk, as well as egg, eel, and freshwater clam. Samples were spiked both at 0.01 mg/kg and at the Japanese maximum residue limit (MRL) established for each food type. The validation results show excellent recoveries (88–107%) and precision (< 10%) for flutolanil and M-4. The limit of quantification (S/N ≥ 10) of the developed method is 0.01 mg/kg. The developed method is applicable to the definition of residual flutolanil for animal-based food commodities and MRLs established by the Codex Alimentarius, and will be useful for the regulatory monitoring of residual flutolanil and its metabolites in food products.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Flutolanil
• α,α,α-trifluoro-3´-hydroxy-o-toluanilide
• 2-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid
• LC-MS/MS

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the a grant from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan.