Simultaneous determination of 16 herbicides in Procambarus clarkii

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Food Safety Analysis

Background:

• Herbicides are widely used in agriculture, posing potential risks to aquatic ecosystems and food sources.
• Procambarus clarkii (red swamp crayfish) are important aquaculture species and can accumulate environmental contaminants.
• Monitoring herbicide residues in edible aquatic organisms is crucial for public health and environmental protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a sensitive and reliable analytical method for quantifying 16 common herbicides in Procambarus clarkii.
• To establish a robust protocol for sample preparation and instrumental analysis of herbicide residues.

Main Methods:

• Pass-through solid-phase extraction (SPE) using a neutral alumina column (Alumina-N SPE) for sample cleanup.
• High-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) for sensitive and selective herbicide detection.
• Optimization of extraction, concentration, and chromatographic separation for complex biological matrices.

Main Results:

• The developed HPLC-MS/MS method demonstrated excellent linearity (R² > 0.99) over the concentration range of 0.25–80.0 μg/L.
• Average recoveries for the 16 herbicides ranged from 73.7% to 111.9%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) below 15%.
• The method proved suitable for detecting triazine, amide, and dinitroaniline herbicides in Procambarus clarkii samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed pass-through SPE coupled with HPLC-MS/MS is a highly effective and reliable method for determining multiple herbicide residues in Procambarus clarkii.
• This analytical approach provides a valuable tool for routine monitoring of herbicide contamination in crayfish, supporting food safety regulations.
• The method's sensitivity and accuracy contribute to safeguarding consumer health and assessing environmental contamination in aquaculture.