The use of nonendcapped C18 columns in the cleanup of clenbuterol and a new adrenergic agonist from bovine liver by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis

J Chromatogr Sci. 2002 Feb;40(2):92-6. doi: 10.1093/chromsci/40.2.92.

Abstract

More specific official methodology is needed to survey the illegal use of clenbuterol in animal production plus the synthesis of new compounds that currently elude routine analytical methods. The identification of a new adrenergic agonist, N1-(2-(4-amino-3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl)-N1-isopropyl-propanamide (known as compound A) in animal feed has prompted studies to verify if the existing cleanup procedures developed for clenbuterol are really effective. This study considers the ion-exchange mechanism on cyanopropyl (CN), sulfonic cation exchange (SCX), mixed phase (MPH) (C8 + SCX), and nonendcapped C18 (C18NE) solid-phase extraction (SPE) columns. Results indicate that compound A (by contrast with clenbuterol) is not efficiently retained on the CN, SCX, and MPH SPE columns (recovery <10%). This finding thus leads to the development of a gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry procedure based on C18NE SPE that is able to purify both agonists from bovine livers spiked at 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 ppb with a mean recovery of 93% for clenbuterol and 92% for compound A.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic Agonists / isolation & purification*
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / instrumentation*
  • Clenbuterol / isolation & purification*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Liver / chemistry*
  • Reproducibility of Results

Substances

  • Adrenergic Agonists
  • Clenbuterol