Tristyrylphenol ethoxylates (TSPxEOs), nonionic surfactant adjuvants, are widely used to replace alkylphenols in many agricultural formulations. Herein, a rapid and sensitive method based on a modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe "QuEChERS" and supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (SFC-MS/MS) method was developed to quantify TSPxEOs in cucumber, leaves, and soil. Following optimization, the tested oligomers were fully separated within 8 min. The matrix-matched calibration standards showed satisfactory linearity with coefficients of determination (R2) ≥ 0.991. The limits of quantification (LOQs: 0.001-0.048 μg kg-1) were excellent for TSPxEOs (x = 6-29). The average recoveries at three (low, medium, and high) fortification levels were ranged between 62.5% and 112.9% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) ≤20.0% for TSPxEOs (x = 6-29) in various matrices. The method was successfully applied to determine TSPxEOs residual levels in field-incurred samples. Conclusively, the developed method is versatile and could be used for monitoring TSPxEOs in food and environmental samples.
Keywords: Cucumber-field system; Pesticide adjuvant; QuEChERS; Supercritical fluid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry; Tristyrylphenol ethoxylates.
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