Ultra-performance convergence chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry-assisted method for rapid enantioseparation and determination of fluazifop-butyl in tobacco and soil.

A quick, green, and sensitive method for chiral separation and determination of fluazifop-butyl enantiomers in tobacco and soil was established by ultra-performance convergence chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UPC2 -MS/MS). The baseline separation was obtained on an ACQUITY UPC2 Trefoil CEL2 column in 4 minutes with CO2 and methanol as mobile phase. Column temperature, auto back pressure regulator pressure (ABPR), and modifier solvent were optimized to obtain the best separation efficiency. Under the optimal conditions, the recoveries of both enantiomers were 82.8% to 99.5% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 5.5% at three different concentration levels in two matrices. Good coefficients of determination (R2  ≥ 0.9976) were achieved over the concentration range of 10 to 500 ng/mL. The limits of detection (LODs) for all enantiomers in the two matrices varied from 1.6 to 2.1 μg/kg, and the limits of quantification (LOQs) did not exceed 7.0 μg/kg. The proposed method was then successfully applied to analyze authentic samples, confirming that it was a green, convenient, and reliable strategy for the analysis of fluazifop-butyl enantiomers in tobacco and soil.