An analytical method based on LC-MS/MS was developed for the determination of chlorothalonil metabolite I in livestock products. Chlorothalonil metabolite I in livestock products was extracted with acetone. The crude extracts were defatted by acetonitrile and n-hexane partitioning. Cleanup was carried out using a combination of ethylene diamine-N-propyl silylation silica gel (PSA) and silica gel (SI) mini columns with acidic condition. The sample solution was subjected to LC-MS/MS using an external solvent calibration curve. The average recovery (n=5) of chlorothalonil metabolite I from five types of livestock products (cattle muscle, cattle fat, cattle liver, milk and egg) spike at the maximum residue limits (MRLs) or at a uniform limit of 0.01 mg/kg was 97.1-102.9%, with a relative standard deviation of 1.4-6.8%. The limit of quantitation of the developed method was calculated to be 0.01 mg/kg.
Keywords: 2,5,6-Trichloro-4-hydroxyisophthalonitrile; LC-MS/MS; chlorothalonil metabolite I; livestock products.