Rapid and sensitive detection of abamectin in edible oils by solid phase extraction combined with ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

This study proposes a fast, simple and sensitive ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS)-based method for the detection of abamectin in edible oils. An effective one-step process of extraction and cleanup of abamectin from edible oils is achieved with the use of a humic acid-bonded silica (HAS)-based solid phase extraction (SPE), providing good cleanup performance and satisfactory recovery of abamectin. The effects of experimental variables, such as the amount of sorbents, loading, washing and eluting solvents, and the flow rates of sampling and eluting have been studied in detail. Under optimized conditions, the validation method was performed in terms of linearity, recovery and precision. Good linearity was obtained for abamectin with R² 0.9996, and the limit of detection (LOD) was found to be 0.16 μg kg⁻¹. The recovery methods of abamectin spiked at three concentration levels in a blank sample were from 91.7% to 101.8%, with inter- and intra-day relative standard deviations (RSDs) of less than 7.0%.