DEVELOPMENT OF ANALYTICAL METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF TRIAZOLE AND PYRETROID PESTICDES IN MUSTARD GREENS (Brassicajuncea)

Abstract

Triazole and pyrethroid are two of the most commonly used pesticides in vegetable cultivation nowadays. In this study, a multi-residue analytical method employing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) technique was successfully developed for the quantification of two triazole fungicides, namely propiconazole and difenoconazole, and pyrethroid insecticide cypermethrin (including 4 isomers) in mustard greens. The GC–MS running program performed good separation with a low detection limit and short analysis time (24 minutes). Target compounds in mustard green samples were ultrasonically extracted in 15 minutes with 60 mL acetone, followed by clean-up steps using solid phase extraction in a packed activated carbon column with 40 mL acetone:toluene (v:v, 1:1) for elutions, and florisil cartridge with an elution mixture of 15 mL acetone:n-hexane (v:v, 1:5). The method quality control was conducted before applying for a preliminary screening of triazole and pyrethroid residue levels in mustard greens collected in Phu Yen province, Vietnam.