Abstract

The usefulness of cryotrapping gas chromatography-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (GC-FTIR) for the residue analysis of the beta-agonists clenbuterol, mabuterol and salbutamol in bovine urine and tissues has been evaluated. It is demonstrated that the technique is able to detect and identify the trimethylsilyl derivatives of these compounds in urine and liver extracts of veal calves and cattle. The obtained limit of identification is approximately 1 nanogram per microliter extract injected on column which is equivalent to 2.5 microgram per liter or kilogram of the original sample. It is anticipated that the technique may develop as a valuable method for univocal confirmation of the presence of residues, particularly in addition to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).