Detection of 1,3,5-triazine derivatives in crop samples by thermolysis-atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

Pulsed pyrolysis (Py) in combination with atmospheric pressure ionization (API) and tandem mass spectrometry was investigated as a method for detecting 1,3,5-triazine pesticide residues in agricultural matrices with minimal sample preparation. Analytes investigated were thermally stable and produced Py-API mass spectra that contained essentially only the protonated molecule. Collision-induced dissociation yielded daughter ions attributable to cleavage of the triazine ring. Limits of detection for analytes in crop samples ranged from lo-' to 10' mg residue per kilogram of substrate, depending on the nature of both analyte and substrate.