Gas-liquid chromatographic determination of diethylstilbestrol in molasses-based liquid feed supplements

A gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC) method is described for the determination of diethylstilbestrol (DES) in molasses-based liquid feed supplements, using dienestrol diacetate as the internal standard. A sample equivalent to 110 mug DES was diluted, acidified with dilute sulfuric acid, extracted with chloroform, and subjected to basic sodium acetate cleanup. The bis-(trimethylsilyl) acetamide derivative was prepared and determined by GLC. Interfering peaks and/or low recoveries were found to be related to emulsions and the procedure incorporates centrifugation to minimize these.