In this paper, carbon nanoparticle (CNP) with abundant oxygen-containing groups was prepared. The adsorption behavior of ractopamine on the CNP surface was investigated by electrochemical study. Two oxidative peaks of ractopamine were observed at 0.60 and 0.82 V. The oxidative peaks were distinctly enhanced on the CNP surface and the enhancements were result from the adsorption. The adsorption mechanism was discussed in detail and deduced to be via pi-pi interaction and salt linkage. The salt linkage between the secondary amide of ractopamine and the carboxyl group on CNP surfaces was confirmed. It provided a novel electron transfer channel for the electrochemical oxidation of phenolic groups. A sensitive differential pulse voltammetry method based on the adsorption was proposed for the determination of ractopamine with the detection limit of 2.0 x 10(-10) mol L-1. This method was successfully applied to the analysis of ractopamine in urine sample. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.