Validation of an analytical method for 1,2,4-triazole in soil using liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray tandem mass spectrometry and monitoring of propiconazole degradation in a batch study

1,2,4-triazole is one of the most important metabolites resulting from the degradation of a large class of pesticides, the triazole fungicides. These fungicides are widely used on fruits, vegetables and cereals. Two different analytical methods which are quick, cheap and easy to implement were developed and validated to monitor propiconazole and 1,2,4-triazole in soil using LC-MS/MS. The limits of quantification reached were 4.0 μg kg−1 for propiconazole and 1.1 μg kg−1 for 1,2,4-triazole. The recovery range was from 93 to 99% with a relative standard deviation <11.2% and from 83 to 97% with a RSD <7.8% for propiconazole and 1,2,4-triazole respectively. These methods: were used to monitor the degradation of propiconazole and the formation of 1,2,4-triazole in soil in a batch study lasting 28 days.