Residue analysis of tetraniliprole in rice and related environmental samples by HPLC/MS

Abstract Tetraniliprole is a new type of pesticide; no analytical methods have been reported for determining its residual concentration in rice and related environmental samples. Herein, we present a method for the analysis of tetraniliprole residues in rice, soil, and water. First, the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method for the extraction and purification of the pesticide residues was optimized. The tetraniliprole residues were then determined by high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, with an electrospray ionization source operated in negative ion mode. Tetraniliprole showed good linearity in matrix at concentrations between 0.005 and 1 mg·L−1, with a correlation coefficient (R2) > 0.99 and a slope ratio indicating a matrix attenuation effect. The average recoveries of tetraniliprole in each matrix sample ranged between 83.97 and 112.18%, with relative standard deviations of 2.58–15.92%. The limits of detection ranged from 1.55 to 3.09 μg·kg−1, while those of quantification varied between 5.16 and 10.29 μg·kg−1. The present method is fast, simple, accurate, and reliable, and thus represents an ideal analytical approach for detecting residual amounts of tetraniliprole in rice and related environmental samples.