Extraction and analysis of avermectines in agricultural soils by microwave assisted extraction and ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

A method for the analysis of avermectines (abamectine, doramectine and ivermectine) in soils has been developed. The analytes are extracted with acetonitrile/water (90:10) by using microwave assisted extraction. The extract is cleaned-up through solid phase extraction with Oasis HLB cartridges and analyzed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS). Separation is obtained in 3 min. Extraction of analytes from the soil, that is the most critical point, has been studied in detail, and the effect of soil composition and aging time on the analytes recovery has been investigated.

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► Avermectines in agricultural soils.
► Extraction by using microwave assisted extraction.
► Analysis by using UHPLC–MS/MS
► Soil physico-chemical properties and aging influence on extraction.