Abstract: Objective: An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was established for rapid screening of 27 plant growth regulator and antibiotic residues in bean sprouts. Methods: The analytes were separated on an Agilent Eclipse Plus-C18 chromatographic column (2.1 mm × 100 mm, 1.8 μm) using gradient elution with 0.01% formic acid as mobile phase A and methanol as mobile phase B at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. Qualitative and quantitative analysis were conducted by tandem mass spectrometry in a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Results: The method had a wide linear range and good linearity, with correlation coefficient (R2) ≥ 0.998 5, and the precision expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) ranged from 1.1% to 3.5% (n = 6). The recoveries at three spiked concentrations ranged from 80.5% to 114.9%. The limits of detection (LOQ) and limits of quantitation (LOQ) were 0.5–50 and 1.5–150 μg/kg, respectively. Conclusion: This method is rapid, accurate and highly sensitive, and can be used for simultaneous detection of the 27 plant growth regulator and antibiotic residues in bean sprouts.

Key words: ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; bean sprouts; plant growth regulators; antibiotics