OBJECTIVE: In this study, we endeavored to develop a rapid method for multiresidue analysis of glyphosate (+aminomethylphosphonic acid) and glufosinate (+3-methylphosphinicopropionic acid and N-acetyl-glufosinate) in refined and crude palm oil matrices using liquid chromatography (LC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).
METHOD: The optimized sample preparation workflow included extraction of refined or crude palm oil (10 g) with acidified water (0.1 M HCl), cleanup by phase separation with dichloromethane, and analysis by LC-MS/MS with multiple reaction monitoring.
RESULTS: The use of a Torus-DEA LC column ensured simultaneous analysis of these compounds within a runtime of 10 min. The LOQ of these analytes was 0.01 mg/kg, except that of aminomethylphosphonic acid which was 0.02 mg/kg. The method sensitivity complied with the national maximum residue limits of Malaysia and the European Union. Also, the method selectivity, sensitivity, accuracy, and precision were aligned with the SANTE/12682/2019 guidelines of analytical quality control.
CONCLUSIONS: The potentiality of the optimized method lies in a high throughput direct analysis of glyphosate and glufosinate with their metabolites in a single chromatographic run. The method is fit for purpose for regulatory testing of these residues in a broad range of palm oil matrices.
HIGHLIGHTS: The study reports for the first time a validated method for simultaneous analysis of glyphosate, glufosinate, and their metabolites in a range of palm oil products. The method did not require a derivatization step and provided a high throughput analysis of these compounds with satisfactory selectivity, sensitivity, accuracy, and precision.