Determination of the herbicide isoproturon in cereal grains and pasta by LC with LC/MS confirmation

A method was developed for the determination of the herbicide isoproturon in wheat, maize, oats and pasta, with a limit of determination of 0.05 mg kg(-1). Isoproturon was extracted from moistened samples using a mixture of acetone, hexane and dichloromethane. The resulting extract was cleaned-up by solid-phase extraction using aminopropyl-bonded silica cartridges and analysed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. Confirmation was by electrospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Recoveries from seven samples of each of the four matrices spiked with isoproturon at 0.05 and 0.5 mg kg(-1) were in the range 88-104%. The method was used to monitor cereal grains and pasta as part of the UK food monitoring programme.