Simultaneous determination of the herbicide bixlozone and its metabolites in plant and animal samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Tracing the herbicide bixlozone and its metabolites in food is necessary to assess their risks to human health. In the study, a rapid and effective analytical method using the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method for the simultaneous determination of bixlozone and its metabolites (2,4-dichlorobenzoic acid, 3-hydroxy-propanamide-bixlozone, and 5'-hydroxy-bixlozone) in plant and animal samples (tomato, cucumber, apple, wheat flour, meat, milk, and egg) was developed based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The method was validated based on the linearity (R2  > 0.99), sensitivity (limit of quantification = 0.01 mg/kg), recovery (70.2-115.1%), and precision (intraday 1.2-17.6%, interday 0.3-16.0%). Detection was achieved within 6.0 min. The method is reliable for the determination of four target compounds in all seven matrices. The satisfactory validation criteria and successful application show that the proposed methodology is suitable for the detection of four target compounds in real matrices.