Simultaneous determination of 27 pesticides in corn and cow matrices by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

In this paper, we developed a sensitive UPLC-MS/MS method to determine pesticide residues in plant matrices (corn, fresh corn, fresh corn stover, old corn stover, and corn silage) and animal matrices (beef, fat, milk, milk fat, kidney, liver, and cow stomach) quantitatively. Twenty-seven pesticides were extracted with acetonitrile from all plant and animal matrices separately and purified with a mixture of primary secondary amine (PSA) and graphitized carbon black (GCB) or octadecylsilane (C₁₈). The average recoveries of these compounds ranged from 60.7% to 118.2%, and the relative standard deviations were less than 20.0%. The limit of quantitation for all compounds was 0.01 mg kg⁻¹ (for cyhalothrin and beta cypermethrin the LOQ was 0.02 mg kg⁻¹). The establishment of multi-residue analysis methods for a variety of matrices can be used as a database for future method research. The results of this study are essential for calculating the transfer of pesticide residues from feed to animal products and for monitoring food safety, which will protect people's health and safety.