Detection of nine herbicide residues in Angelica sinensis by QuEChERS-GC-MS

Objective  To establish a method for analyzing herbicide residues in Angelica sinensis.

Method  The residues of nine herbicides, including fenamine, clomazone, acetochlor, prometryn, metolachlor, pendimethalin, butachlor, pretilachlor and oxyfluorfen were analyzed by QuEChERS combined with GC-MS. Samples were extracted with acetonitrile and cleaned up using primary secondary amine (PSA) and graphitized carbon black (GCB). Nine herbicides were detected using the selective ion monitoring (SIM) mode and quantified with external standards. Parameters which influenced extraction and purification efficiency were optimized.

Result  There were good linear relationships between herbicide concentration and detected peak area within the range from 0.01 to 5.00 mg·L^-1 for all nine herbicides. The average recovery rates of nine herbicides in A. sinensis were from 74.58% to 96.37% at the addition levels of 0.01 and 0.10 mg·kg^-1, with relative standard deviation less than 11.73%. The detection limits of nine herbicides were from 0.52 to 6.60 μg·kg^-1.

Conclusion  This detection method is simple, fast and effective, and can be used practically to detect a variety of herbicides in A. sinensis samples.