Analysis of Cocaine and Crack Cocaine via Thin Layer Chromatography Coupled to Easy Ambient Sonic-Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Abstract
Cocaine and crack cocaine are usually seized with a great diversity of adulterants, such as benzocaine, lidocaine, caffeine, and procaine. The forensic identification of cocaine in these drug mixtures is normally performed using colorimetric testing kits, but these tests may suffer from interferences providing false-positive or false-negatives. In this work, we describe the use of thin layer chromatography coupled to easy sonic-spray ambient ionization mass spectrometry (TLC/EASI-MS) for rapid and secure analysis of cocaine and crack cocaine. Fifteen cocaine samples were analyzed, and all of them revealed positive TLC/EASI-MS results for cocaine, but other drugs and adulterants were also detected such as lidocaine, caffeine, benzocaine, lactose, benzoylecgonine, and ecgonidine. False positives and false negatives, as judged by the TLC Rf values, were identified via on-spot characterization by EASI-MS. The TLC/EASI-MS combination seems therefore to provide an appropriate technique for secure forensic investigations of illicit drugs.
- M. Chiarotti and N. Fucci, “Comparative Analysis of Heroin and Cocaine Seizures,” Journal of Chromatogra-phy B: Biomedical Sciences and Applications, Vol. 733, No. 1-2, 1999, pp. 127-136. doi:10.1016/S0378-4347(99)00240-6
- S. E. Lankenau, M. C. Clatts, L. A. Goldsamt and D. L. Welle, “Crack Cocaine Injection Practices and HIV Risk: Findings from New York and Bridgeport,” Journal of Drug Issues, Vol. 34, No. 2, 2004, pp. 319-332.
- D. G. de Carvalho and A. F. Mídio, “Quality of Cocaine Seized in 1997 in the Street-Drug Market of S?o Paulo City, Brazil,” Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol. 39, No. 1, 2003, pp. 71-75.
- R. F. X. Klein and P. A. Hays, “Detection and Analysis of Drugs of Forensic Interest, 1992-2001. A Literature Review,” Microgram Journal, Vol. 1, No. 1-2, 2003, pp. 55-153.
- W. Jeffrey, “Colour Tests,” In: A. Moffat, et al., Ed., Clarke’s Analysis of Drugs and Poisons in Pharmaceuti-cals, Body Fluids and Postmortem Material, Pharma-ceutical Press, London, 2004.
- D. R. Ifa, L. M. Gumaelius, L. S. Eberlin, N. E. Manicke and R. G. Cooks, “Forensic Analysis of Inks by Imaging Desorption Electrospray Ionization (DESI) Mass Spec-trometry,” Analyst, Vol. 132, No. 5, 2007, pp. 461-467. doi:10.1039/b700236j
- Z. Takats, J. M. Wiseman, B. Gologan and R. G. Cooks, “Mass Spectrometry Sampling under Ambient Conditions with Desorption Electrospray Ionization,” Science, Vol. 306, No. 5695, 2004, pp. 471-473. doi:10.1126/science.1104404
- L. A. Leuthold, et al., “Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry: Direct Toxicological Screening and Analysis of Illicit Ecstasy Tablets,” Rapid Commu-nications in Mass Spectrometry, Vol. 20, No. 2, 2006, pp. 103-110. doi:10.1002/rcm.2280
- J. M. Wells, et al., “Implementation of DART and DESI Ionization on a Fieldable Mass Spectrometer,” Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, Vol. 19, No. 10, 2008, pp. 1419-1424. doi:10.1016/j.jasms.2008.06.028
- H. Chen, N. N. Talaty, Z. Takats and R. G. Cooks, “De-sorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry for High-Throughput Analysis of Pharmaceutical Samples in the Ambient Environment,” Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 77, No. 21, 2005, pp. 6915-6927. doi:10.1021/ac050989d
- T. J. Kauppila, et al., “Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry for the Analysis of Pharmaceuticals and Metabolites,” Rapid Communications in Mass Spec-trometry, Vol. 20, No. 3, 2006, pp. 387-392. doi:10.1002/rcm.2304