Determination and dissipation of mesotrione and its metabolites in rice using UPLC and triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry

In this study, an efficient and fast method for the determination of the herbicide mesotrione and its two metabolites [4-methylsulfonyl-2-nitrobenzoic acid (MNBA) and 2-amino-4-methylsulfonylbenzoic acid (AMBA)] in rice, rice plants, rice hulls, water, and soil was developed, using ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem quadrupole (Xevo TQ-S) mass spectrometry (UPLC-Xevo TQ-S-MS/MS). The recoveries of the compounds were 68.6%-108.4% at different levels. The intra-day relative standard deviation (RSD) ranged from 2.0% to 14.4%, and the inter-day RSD, from 1.9% to 11.4%. The limits of quantification (LOQ) were ranged from 0.146 to 4.545 μg kg−1for mesotrione, MNBA and AMBA. Dissipation and residual assays with the commercial formulation were conducted at three locations. The dissipation rates of the compounds were fast in rice plants, soil, and water, and residues at harvest were not detected in any of the three localities.