Abstract:

In this study, a simple, fast, sensitive and accurate liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS)
method was developed for the analysis of bisultap in sugarcane. The chromatographic conditions, the mass spectrometry
parameters and the composition of extraction solvent were optimized. Bisultap was extracted with 50% methanol-water
(50:50, V/V). Then, the extraction phase was filtered after centrifugation, followed by LC-MS-MS detection without further
purification. The limit of detection for bisultap in sugarcane was 1.0 μg/kg and the limit of quantification was 4.0 μg/kg.
Recoveries at five spiked levels of 4.0, 10, 100, 200 and 500 μg/kg ranged from 62.3% to 108.4% with relative standard
deviations of 5.1% to 14.8%. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of eight sugarcane samples from local
markets in Guangzhou and no bisultap was detected.

Key words: bisultap, sugarcane, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry