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The method presented is a suitable approach for routine testing of paraquat in difficult sample types, such as winter wheat and alfalfa plant tissue, typically found with accidental spray drift. Hydrophilic interaction chromatography and ultra-performance LC is utilized with tandem quadrupole MS in the positive electrospray ionization mode. Three precursor-product ion transitions are measured in the multiple reaction monitoring mode, and paraquat d8 is added as an internal standard at the beginning of the extraction procedure to correct for losses in recovery and/or matrix effects in instrument response. A 5 g portion is digested with 6 M HCl in a 100°C water bath for 1 h. An aliquot is removed and adjusted to pH 7-8 prior to loading on a mixed mode weak cation-exchange SPE cartridge, and paraquat is eluted with formic acid-acetonitrile (10 + 90, v/v). Average recoveries of paraquat fortified at 0.020-0.080 ppm in winter wheat and alfalfa ranged from 80 to 114% (RSD 12-30%). Result data from naturally incurred paraquat (0.027-0.51 ppm) in composite garden plants, potato leaves, tree leaves, and alfalfa are presented. The LOQ is 0.020 ppm.

The method presented uses reversed-phase liquid chromatography with negative electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometry to analyze 9 chlorinated acid herbicides in soil and vegetation matrixes: clopyralid, dicamba, MCPP, MCPA, 2,4-DP, 2,4-D, triclopyr, 2,4-DB, and picloram. A 20 g portion is extracted with a basic solution and an aliquot acidified and micropartitioned with 3 mL chloroform. Vegetation samples are subjected to an additional cleanup with a mixed-mode anion exchange solid-phase extraction cartridge. Two precursor product ion transitions per analyte are measured and evaluated to provide the maximum degree of confidence in results. Average recoveries for 3 different soil types tested ranged from 72 to 107% for all compounds with the exception of 2,4-DB at 56-99%. Average recoveries for the 3 different vegetation types studied were lower and ranged from 53 to 80% for all compounds.

A liquid chromatographic method with comfirmation by capillary electrophoresis was used to determine 12 sulfonylurea herbicides in agricultural water. Analysis of 3 different water matrixes fortified at 2 levels gave good recoveries with adequate sensitivity at the 0.1 ppb level. A portion of the water was acidified with acetic acid and loaded onto an RP-102 solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge, and the extract was cleaned up on an alumina SPE cartridge. Extracts were desalted with an RP-102 SPE cartridge before instrumentation. Samples needing chemical filtration, such as pond water, required additional cleanup with a SAX SPE cartridge before the alumina cleanup step. Data were compiled for both determinative techniques and evaluated.