Development and Validation of QuEChERS Method for Estimation of Chlorantraniliprole Residue in Vegetables

  An easy, simple and efficient analytical method was standardized and validated for the estimation of residues of chlorantraniliprole in different vegetables comprising brinjal, cabbage, capsicum, cauliflower, okra, and tomato. QuEChERS method was used for the extraction and cleanup of chlorantraniliprole residues on these vegetables. Final clear extracts of ethyl acetate were concentrated under vacuum and reconstituted into high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) grade acetonitrile, and residues were estimated using HPLC equipped with PDA detector system, C 18 column and confirmed by liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer (LC‐MS/MS), and high performance thin layer chromatograph (HPTLC). HPLC grade acetonitrile:water (80:20, v/v) was used as mobile phase @ 0.4 mL/min. Chlorantraniliprole presented distinct peak at retention time of 9.82 min. Consistent recoveries ranging from 85% to 96% for chlorantraniliprole were observed when samples were spiked at 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 mg/kg levels. The limit of quantification of this method was worked out to be 0.10 mg/kg. Practical Application:  The QuEChERS sample preparation is suitable for determination of chlorantraniliprole in brinjal, cabbage, capsicum, cauliflower, okra and tomato and thus demonstrating the great versatility of this method. The proposed analytical method using liquid chromatography techniques for the determination of chlorantraniliprole in different vegetable matrices has been demonstrated to be sensitive, fast, precise, accurate, and robust and can be used to monitor chlorantraniliprole residues in different vegetables.