Simultaneous Determination of Five Diamide Insecticides in Food Matrices Using Carbon Nanotube Multiplug Filtration Cleanup and Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

In this study, an analytical method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of five diamide insecticides chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, flubendiamide, cyclaniliprole, and tetrachlorantraniliprole in food matrices. Determination of the latter two diamide compounds is first reported. Samples were cleaned up by multiplug filters containing carbon nanotubes (CNT) or hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced copolymer (HLB), and the classic dispersive solid phase extraction (d-SPE) procedures, respectively. The CNT multiplug filter performed the best processing rapidity and cleanup efficiency thus it was finally chosen for sample cleanup. Instrumental analysis was completed in 5 min using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Mean recoveries of five diamides ranged from 84.3% to 110.0%, with the intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSD) less than 13.5%. Limits of quantitation (LOQ) of all analytes ranged from 0.005 to 0.01 mg kg-1 in different matrices. The results indicate this method is reliable for monitoring the five diamide insecticides in food.