Simultaneous determination of flonicamid, imidacloprid, and its metabolites in paprika by QuEChERS and tandem mass spectrometry

An analytical method for the simultaneous determination of flonicamid, imidacloprid, and its metabolites is established. The method developed herein uses a rapid extraction and cleanup procedure based on quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe followed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The effects of various experimental parameters, including extraction, salting-out agents, and purification sorbents, were investigated to optimize the sample-preparation method; the optimized method was then validated using fortified samples. Flonicamid, imidacloprid, and its metabolites spiked at three concentration levels: 0.05, 0.1, and 0.5 mg kg−1; the means of their recovery were determined by replicate analysis at each level. Under the conditions described, the mean recoveries of flonicamid, imidacloprid, and its metabolites were in the acceptable range 70–120 % with a satisfactory precision (RSD ≤20 %). This modified method provides improved recoveries of flonicamid metabolites and may be a useful analytical technique for the simultaneous determination of flonicamid, imidacloprid, and its metabolites in fruits and vegetables.