Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry after the QuEChERS Method for Determining 20 Herbicide Residues in Wheat and Flour

Agriculture is the backbone of the economy and social structure, and it plays a critical part in each country’s overall growth. Because of the significant food gap that exists in several vital crops, wars, and the continual expansion in the population, the role of agriculture products has recently become critical. The world is currently experiencing a severe food shortage, estimated to be over 60% of its strategic food requirements. As a result, there is a need to increase the area of farmed land in order to satisfy the growing population and raise food demand by eliminating weeds that can reduce agricultural output. Weed is an unwanted plant (one that grows in the incorrect area) that reduces crop output. Herbicides are a type of pesticides that are used to kill weeds and increase crop output. As a result, herbicide residues on food, particularly cereals, must be determined. In this study, the QuEChERS approach for determining herbicides in wheat and corn by direct injection to Exion HPLC coupled with a SciexQtrap API 6500+ LC–MS/MS system using an electrospray positive ionization (ESI+) at lower concentrations without utilizing acids or clean-up is evaluated, optimized, and validated in this work.