Determination of Carbendazim and Benomyl Residues in Oranges and Orange Juice by Automated Online Sample Preparation Using TLX-LC-MS/MS

Methyl 2-benzimidazole carbamate, most commonly known as carbendazim, is a widely used broad-spectrum benzimidazole fungicide and a decomposition product of benomyl. Carbendazim is used to control plant diseases in cereals and fruit, including citrus, bananas, strawberries, pineapples, and pome fruits. Although not permitted for use to treat citrus fruit in the USA and Australia, it is permitted in the EU and European Regulation 559/2011 sets a limit for carbendazim and benomyl (sum of carbendazim and benomyl expressed as carbendazim) of 0.2 mg/kg in oranges. Incidences of MRL exceedance have been common in the EU, with 23 Rapid Alert Notifications in 2011 for levels of carbendazim as high at 4 mg/kg in fruit, vegetables and herbs from Africa, S. America and Asia.1 The most common occurrence was in yams and no instances of carbendazim in oranges or orange juice were reported. Orange juice from Brazil imported into the USA has been found to contain carbendazim and an action limit of 0.01 m/kg has been applied by the FDA.2 Many methods in widespread use for monitoring carbendazim have been developed for multi-residue determination of fungicides and employ a variety of sample preparation and cleanup techniques. In recent years the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) method has become widely adopted for handling Determination of Carbendazim and Benomyl Residues in Oranges and Orange Juice by Automated Online Sample Preparation Using TLX-LC-MS/MS