An environmentally friendly method for the enantioseparation and determination of benalaxyl in tobacco and soil by ultra-performance convergence chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

For the purpose of chiral separation and determination of benalaxyl enantiomers in tobacco and soil, we developed a rapid, green, and sensitive method using ultra-performance convergence chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The samples were extracted and purified by the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method before injection. The baseline separation was obtained on a chiral column in 5 min with carbon dioxide and ethanol as mobile phase. Separation parameters were optimized for the best separation efficiency. Under optimal conditions, the recoveries of both enantiomers were 77.1-98.4% with relative standard deviations <5.0% at spiked level of 0.1, 2.0, and 5.0 mg/kg in two matrices. Good coefficients of determination were achieved over the concentration range of 10-250 ng/mL. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification for all enantiomers ranged from 0.43 to 0.72 μg/kg and from 1.25 to 2.15 μg/kg, respectively. The results show that ultra-performance convergence chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry provides a reliable, green, and rapid method for the separation and determination of benalaxyl enantiomers in tobacco and soil. This method has important theoretical significance for studying the enantioselectivity and bioactivity of benalaxyl in the environment and in organisms.