A method for multiple identification of four β2-Agonists in goat muscle and beef muscle meats using LC-MS/MS based on deproteinization by adjusting pH and SPE for sample cleanup

An LC-MS/MS method was established for simultaneous identification of levels of bilpaterol, cimbuterol, clenproperol, and bambuterol in goat and beef muscle. Meat samples were subjected to extraction using an aqueous acidic solution and cleansed using MCX solid phase extraction. β2-Agonists residues were extracted using an aqueous acidic solution. Proteins in extraction liquids was removed based on adjusting pH using perchloric acid and a sodium hydroxide solution, followed by SPE for clean-up. Linearity values of the method based on R2 values were 0.9976-0.9997 with 70.1-108.8% recovery and relative standard deviation values of 3.5-13.3%. Low limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) of 0.01-0.02 and 0.02-0.08 µg/kg, respectively, were achieved for spiked goat and spiked beef muscle. The method was sensitive and specific and is an improvement over other currently available technologies.