Simultaneous analysis of three avermectins in soils by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A simple and sensitive method has been developed and validated for the determination of abamectin B_1a (ABA B_1a), emamectin B_1a (EMA B_1a) benzoate and ivermectin H₂B_1a (IVM H₂B_1a) in soils. The avermectins (AVMs) residues were extracted from soils with acetonitrile/water (9?:?1, v/v) and then were purified on C₁₈ solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge. After being derivatised by N-methylimidazole (N-MIM) and trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA), the residues of three AVMs were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). The method was validated in terms of system suitability, linearity, selectivity, precision, recovery, specificity and stability. There was a good linear relationship (R ^2?>?0.99) for three AVMs ranged from 0.01 to 5?µg?mL^?1. The LOD and LOQs of ABA B_1a, EMA B_1a benzoate and IVM H₂B_1a for standard solutions were 1.1–1.7 and 3.6–5.7?µg?L^?1 respectively. The accuracy of AVMs in soils was from 83.7 to 115.5% with precision less than or equal to 12.4%. Using the developed method, 9 soil samples with 9.3–12806.3?µg?kg^?1 of AVMs residues had been detected.