Evaluation of matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction for 11 β-agonists in swine feed by liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the determination of 11 beta-agonists (clenbuterol, salbutamol, ractopamine, terbutaline, fenoterol, cimaterol, isoxsuprine, mabuterol, mapenterol, clenproperol, and tulobuterol) in swine feed. This rapid, simple, and effective extraction method was based on matrix solid-phase dispersion. The limit of quantification of clenbuterol, cimaterol, mabuterol, salbutamol, terbutaline, mapenterol, clenproperol, and tulobuterol was 1 mu g/kg and that of ractopamine, fenoterol, and isoxsuprine was 2 mu g/kg. The recoveries of beta-agonists spiked in swine feeds at a concentration range of 1-8 mu g/kg were >83.1% with relative standard deviations <9.3%. This rapid and reliable method can be used to efficiently separate, characterize, and quantify the residues of 11 beta-agonists in swine feeds with advantages of simple pretreatment and environmental friendliness.