Development of a Method for the Analysis of Four Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) Residues in Soybean Sprouts and Mung Bean Sprouts by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of four plant growth regulators (PGRs) residues in soybean sprouts and mung bean sprouts. The sample preparation procedure was based on a QuEChERS method. The method showed excellent linearity (r(2) a parts per thousand yen 0.9985) and precision (RSDs a parts per thousand currency sign 13.0 %). Average recoveries of four PGRs ranged between 74.9 % and 106.3 % at spiking levels 0.05, 0.5 and 1 mg kg(-1). The LODs and LOQs were in the ranges of 0.27-9.3 mu g kg(-1) and 0.90-31 mu g kg(-1), respectively. The procedure was applied to 18 bean sprout samples, and benzyladenine was found in some of the analyzed samples.