Gas Chromatographic Method Optimization and Statistical Validation for the Determination of Trace Impurities in Street Doses of Heroin

This study aims to utilize the manufacturing impurities found in illicit heroin to predict whether the samples had originated from a common production batch. From highly cut heroin samples, twelve frequently extractable neutral/acidic impurities were selected for investigation. A gas chromatographic method was optimized using three locally seized samples containing the target impurities and a control sample consisting of n-alkanes. The method optimization procedures are reported in detail. The capability of the optimized method was further assessed using five simulated links prepared from unrelated heroin seizures. With the aid of principal component analysis (PCA), it was found that the statistical data pretreatment (normalization followed by standardization, N + S) showed promising results for sample classification using profiles obtained with the optimized method. Similarly, 252 street doses of highly cut samples were analyzed and the profiles were statistically decomposed by PCA after the N + S pretreatment. The statistics suggested that the locally seized samples could have originated from more than one production batch.     

Evaluation method for linking methamphetamine seizures using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions: a complementary study with impurity profiling

Drug profiling, extraction of physical and/or chemical profiles from abused drug samples, is useful for inferring and characterizing links between samples originating from the same and different seizures, and supports drug crime investigations. We describe an evaluation method for linking methamphetamine (MA) seizures using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions concurrently with gas chromatographic impurity profiling, which is one of the major methods of drug profiling. Several sets of MA seized in Japan, whose investigative information indicated linkages, were analyzed. The impurity profile of each set of seizures was quite similar and hierarchical cluster analysis showed a sample classification that was relatively consistent with the investigative information. The stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions of the MA seizures varied between -29.40 and -24.90 (delta(13)C) and -2.29 and 5.94 (delta(15)N), respectively. In the delta(13)C-delta(15)N graph, MA seizures were classified into seven groups, probably reflecting different origins. The size of the cluster in the isotopic-composition graph was determined by pooled standard deviations (s(p)), the pooled estimates of measurement uncertainty. The sizes of the clusters were less than 6s(p) and the linkages between the MA seizures from the isotopic compositions were consistent with the impurity profiling and investigative information. The results showed that complementary use of stable-isotopic compositions with impurity profiling provides useful information for evaluating the links between seizures.     

Rapid analysis of ecstasy and related phenethylamines in seized tablets by Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy with far-red excitation has been used to study seized, tableted samples of MDMA (N-methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine) and related compounds (MDA, MDEA, MBDB, 2C-B and amphetamine sulfate), as well as pure standards of these drugs. We have found that by using far-red (785 nm) excitation the level of fluorescence background even in untreated seized samples is sufficiently low that there is little difficulty in obtaining good quality data with moderate 2 min data accumulation times. The spectra can be used to distinguish between even chemically-similar substances, such as the geometrical isomers MDEA and MBDB, and between different polymorphic/hydrated forms of the same drug. Moreover, these differences can be found even in directly recorded spectra of seized samples which have been bulked with other materials, giving a rapid and non-destructive method for drug identification. The spectra can be processed to give unambiguous identification of both drug and excipients (even when more than one compound has been used as the bulking agent) and the relative intensities of drug and excipient bands can be used for quantitative or at least semi-quantitative analysis. Finally, the simple nature of the measurements lends itself to automatic sample handling so that sample throughputs of 20 samples per hour can be achieved with no real difficulty.     

Simultaneous analysis of synthetic cannabinoids in the materials seized during drug trafficking using GC-MS

A rapid and simple gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was developed and validated to identify and quantify synthetic cannabinoids in the materials seized during drug trafficking. Accuracy and reproducibility of the method were improved by using deuterated JWH-018 and JWH-073 as internal standards. Validation results of the GC-MS method showed that it was suitable for simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analyses of synthetic cannabinoids, and we analyzed synthetic cannabinoids in seized materials using the validated GC-MS method. As a result of the analysis, ten species of synthetic cannabinoids were identified in dried leaves (n?=?40), bulk powders (n?=?6), and tablets (n?=?14) seized in Korea during 2009–2012, as a single ingredient or as a mixture with other active co-ingredients. JWH-018 and JWH-073 were the most frequently identified compounds in the seized materials. Synthetic cannabinoids in the dried leaves showed broad concentration ranges, which may cause unexpected toxicity to abusers. The bulk powders were considered as raw materials used to prepare legal highs, and they contained single ingredient of JWH-073, JWH-019, or JWH-250 with the purity over 70 %. In contrast, JWH-018 and JWH-073 contents in the tablets were 7.1–13.8 and 3.0–10.2 mg/g, respectively. Relatively low contents in the tablets suggest that the synthetic cannabinoids may have been added to the tablets as supplements to other active co-ingredients.     

SPME/GC-MS鉴别地沟油新方法(Ⅱ)

采用固相微萃取/气相色谱-质谱(SPME/GC-MS)方法测定地沟油中的微量杂质成分,通过对各种纯正植物油中的内源性微量成分与不同地区地沟油中的外源性杂质成分的对比分析,以及对地沟油中杂质成分来源的分析,确定了广州、贵州、深圳、北京等地区地沟油的特征成分,并作为鉴别指示成分。该方法灵敏度高、特征性强,在卫生部组织的地沟油检测盲样考核中,对阳性样品判断的准确率高达95.5%。     

氯胺酮、羟亚胺及邻氯苯基环戊酮合成工艺的判别研究

氯胺酮通常以羟亚胺和邻氯苯基环戊酮为主要合成原料。该文采用气相色谱-质谱联用(GC-MS)检测缴获邻氯苯基环戊酮样品中的杂质,并筛选出邻氯苯甲腈以及格氏试剂合成过程中的副反应产物环戊酮、环戊醇、环戊基环戊烷、2-环戊基环戊酮和2-环戊基环戊醇作为特征杂质。通过邻氯苯基环戊酮合成实验,验证了6种特征杂质为邻氯苯甲腈与格氏试剂反应所产生。通过液-液萃取的前处理方法,从缴获羟亚胺样品检测出残留的4种特征杂质。采用顶空/气相色谱-质谱联用(HS/GC-MS)方法从氯胺酮样品中检出残留的2种特征杂质。结果表明,所有缴获的邻氯苯基环戊酮和羟亚胺样品,以及105份氯胺酮样品中的102份均检出2种以上特征杂质,由此推测,格氏试剂法是国内非法工厂生产邻氯苯基环戊酮普遍采用的工艺路线。     

The intriguing case of organic impurities contained in synthetic methanol: a mass spectrometry based investigation

The role of organic impurities in the methanol-to-olefin (MTO) industrial process catalyzed by zeolites is the subject of ongoing debate. We have found that methanol (HPLC and RPE grade) purchased from different chemical companies may contain organic impurities, whose ionization is the dominant process in the positive ion atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) spectrum of commercial CH(3)OH. Such impurities produce ions with elemental formulae C(n)H(2n+1)O(+) (n = 4, 5, 6); likewise, ionization of tetradeuterated methanol (CD(3)OD) leads to the corresponding fully deuterated series C(n)D(2n+1)O(+) (n = 4, 5, 6), an outcome which represents a clear evidence of their widespread diffusion. We suggest that their formation might be inherent to the chemical process whereby methanol is synthesized on an industrial scale. Mass spectrometry (MS) experiments, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements allowed us to establish that commercial methanol contains dimethyl acetals of simple alkyl ketones, such as propanone, butanone and pentanone. Ab initio calculations (DFT/B3LYP) proved useful to understanding the ionization mechanisms of such impurities.     

Anionic forensic signatures for sample matching of potassium cyanide using high performance ion chromatography and chemometrics

Potassium cyanide was used as a model toxicant to determine the feasibility of using anionic impurities as a forensic signature for matching cyanide salts back to their source. In this study, portions of eight KCN stocks originating from four countries were separately dissolved in water and analyzed by high performance ion chromatography (HPIC) using an anion exchange column and conductivity detection. Sixty KCN aqueous samples were produced from the eight stocks and analyzed for 11 anionic impurities. Hierarchal cluster analysis and principal component analysis were used to demonstrate that KCN samples cluster according to source based on the concentrations of their anionic impurities. The Fisher-ratio method and degree-of-class separation (DCS) were used for feature selection on a training set of KCN samples in order to optimize sample clustering. The optimal subset of anions needed for sample classification was determined to be sulfate, oxalate, phosphate, and an unknown anion named unk5. Using K-nearest neighbors (KNN) and the optimal subset of anions, KCN test samples from different KCN stocks were correctly determined to be manufactured in the United States. In addition, KCN samples from stocks manufactured in Belgium, Germany, and the Czech Republic were all correctly matched back to their original stocks because each stock had a unique anionic impurity profile. The application of the Fisher-ratio method and DCS for feature selection improved the accuracy and confidence of sample classification by KNN.     

非法冰毒晶体中有机杂质的气相色谱-质谱分析

建立了一种适用于分析冰毒杂质的方法,并分析其形成原因。将冰毒样品溶于1 mL 0.1 mol/L pH7.0的磷酸盐缓冲液(4份缓冲液1份10%Na2CO3),杂质用0.5 mL乙酸乙酯萃取。结果共有8种物质被检出。N-甲酰甲基安非他明、N-乙酰甲基安非他明在样品中出现,说明此批冰毒由苯丙酮(phenyl-2-propanone,P-2-P)经Leuckart法合成。N-乙基甲基安非他明的检出,则说明用于合成此批冰毒的P-2-P由苯甲醛和硝基乙烷合成。从实验结果看,该法可以满足冰毒杂质分析的需要,为分析冰毒杂质成分的成因、判断冰毒样品的合成路径提供重要信息。     

Stable isotope analysis of safety matches using isotope ratio mass spectrometry--a forensic case study

Isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) was used to assess what contribution the technique could make towards the comparative analysis of matchstick samples within the 'normal' framework of a forensic investigation. A method was developed to allow the comparison of samples submitted as a result of an investigation, with the added advantage of rapid sample turn-around expected within this field. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time that wooden safety matches have been analysed using IRMS. In this particular case, bulk stable isotope analysis carrried out on a 'like-for-like' basis could demonstrate conclusively that matches seized from a suspect were different from those collected at the scene of crime. The maximum delta13C variability observed within one box was 2.5 per thousand, which, in conjunction with the error of measurement, was regarded to yield too wide an error margin as to permit differentiation of matchsticks based on 13C isotopic composition alone given that the 'natural' 13C abundance in wood ranges from -20 to -30 per thousand. However, from the delta2H values obtained for crime scene matches and seized matches of -114.5 per thousand and -65 per thousand, respectively, it was concluded that the matches seized were distinctly different from those collected at the crime scene.     

Validation of primary formaldehyde gas standards prepared by dynamic thermogravimetry through a tri-national comparison of gaseous formaldehyde amount fraction

A validation study for primary formaldehyde gas standards was performed at three National Metrology Institutes: the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), the National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ) and the National Institute of Metrology of China (NIM). The studied materials had a nominal amount fraction of 2 μmol/mol formaldehyde in nitrogen balance and were prepared in 10-L aluminum cylinders by KRISS. The impurities in the materials were analyzed using a gas chromatograph/atomic emission detector and a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The stability of the materials was assessed for 1 year by KRISS using paraformaldehyde as a source for the primary standard gas and a cavity ring-down spectrometer (CRDS) instrument as the measurement method. The amount fraction of formaldehyde in the materials decreased linearly by 0.74 % each month. The studied materials that exhibited similar linear rates of decline were distributed to the participants. After the measurement was completed by the participants, the materials were returned to KRISS and the stability analysis based on the primary standard maintained at KRISS was repeated. NMIJ analyzed the materials using paraformaldehyde as the source of the primary standard of formaldehyde and FTIR analysis, whereas NIM used trioxane as the primary standard gas source and CRDS analysis. The results of the comparison revealed good agreement between the results and were within the expanded uncertainty of 2 % although each of them used different combinations of methods in the generation of primary gas standards and measurements.     

Classification of methamphetamine seized in different regions of Iran using GC–MS and chemometrics

According to the intensive physical and mental risk of methamphetamine (crystal) on human, it is important to focus on the prevention of distribution and decrease of the usage of methamphetamine. In the current study, attempts was on the application of GC–MS analysis combined with chemometrics to present a classification model for methamphetamine samples seized in different regions of Iran. In this work, principal component analysis was not able to discriminate samples from different geographic regions. For the discrimination goal, partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and extended canonical variate analysis (ECVA) were utilized and a classification model was constructed to differentiate methamphetamine samples seized in three regions of Iran, i.e., south, west and central. PLS-DA showed good performance in calibration step; however, ECVA indicated better prediction ability. The difference of the classified samples can be because of difference in the synthetic root used in each of three investigated regions. Class sensitivity and selectivity for all three regions were excellent in ECVA model with nonsignificant misclassifications. Cross-validation and external validation using a test set confirmed the obtained classification model. Statistical results indicated a regional production/distribution pattern in the country.     

Enhancement of intensities in glow discharge mass spectrometry by using mixtures of argon and helium as plasma gases

Glow discharge mass spectrometry (GD-MS) is an excellent technique for fast multi-element analysis of pure metals. In addition to metallic impurities, non-metals also can be determined. However, the sensitivity for these elements can be limited due to their high first ionization potentials. Elements with a first ionization potential close to or higher than that of argon, which is commonly used as discharge gas in GD-MS analysis, are ionized with small efficiency only. To improve the sensitivity of GD-MS for such elements, the influence of different glow-discharge parameters on the peak intensity of carbon, chlorine, fluorine, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen, and sulfur in pure copper samples was investigated with an Element GD (Thermo Fisher Scientific) GD-MS. Discharge current, discharge gas flow, and discharge gas composition, the last of which turned out to have the greatest effect on the measured intensities, were varied. Argon–helium mixtures were used because of the very high potential of He to ionize other elements, especially in terms of the high energy level of its metastable states. The effect of different Ar–He compositions on the peak intensity of various impurities in pure copper was studied. With Ar–He mixtures, excellent signal enhancements were achieved in comparison with use of pure Ar as discharge gas. In this way, traceable linear calibration curves for phosphorus and sulfur down to the μg kg⁻¹ range could be established with high sensitivity and very good linearity using pressed powder samples for calibration. This was not possible when pure argon alone was used as discharge gas. This contribution is based on a presentation given at the Colloquium for Analytical Atomic Spectroscopy (CANAS ’07) held March 18–21, 2007 in Constance, Germany.     

Investigation of optimized experimental parameters including laser wavelength for boron measurement in photovoltaic grade silicon using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

The quantification of boron and other impurities in photovoltaic grade silicon was investigated using the LIBS technique with attention to the laser wavelength employed, temporal parameters, and the nature of the ambient gas. The laser wavelength was found to have a moderate effect on the performance of the process, while the type of purge gas and temporal parameters had a strong effect on the signal-to-background ratio (SBR) of the boron spectral emission, which was used to determine the boron concentration in silicon. The three parameters are not independent, meaning that for each different purge gas, different optimal temporal parameters are observed. Electron density was also calculated from Stark broadening of the 390.5 nm silicon emission line in order to better understand the different performances observed when using different gases and gating parameters. Calibration curves were made for boron measurement in silicon using certified standards with different purge gases while using the temporal parameters which had been optimized for that gas. By comparing the calibration curves, it was determined that argon is superior to helium or air for use as the analysis chamber purge gas with an UV laser.     

Surface studies of halloysite nanotubes by XPS and ToF‐SIMS

This report provides detailed experimental results of thermal and surface characterization on untreated and surface‐treated halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) obtained from two geographic areas. Surface characterization techniques, including XPS and time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) were used. ToF‐SIMS surface analysis experiments were performed with both atomic and cluster ion beams. Higher ion yields and more high‐mass ions were obtained with the cluster ion beams. Static ToF‐SIMS spectra were analyzed with principal component analysis (PCA). Morphological diversities were observed in the samples although they mainly contained tubular structures. Thermogravimetric data indicated that aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution could remove inorganic salt impurities, such as alkali metal salts. The amount of grafting of benzalkonium chloride of HNT surface was determined by thermogravimetic analysis. PCA of ToF‐SIMS spectra could distinguish the samples mined from different geographical locations as well as among surface‐treated and untreated samples. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

硅烷化GC-MS指纹图谱在卷烟品牌分析中的应用

采用硅烷化衍生化法结合气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)法对卷烟烟丝中的主要化学成分进行检测,获得了21个卷烟样品的烟丝硅烷化GC-MS指纹图谱数据,并应用聚类分析和主成分分析法对烟丝硅烷化GC-MS指纹图谱数据进行综合评价。结果表明,该方法可用于不同品牌卷烟的比较和区分,硅烷化成分的含量分布特征能反映不同品牌卷烟的特性,可为卷烟品牌的风格表征、品质维护和真伪鉴别提供参考。     

Air pollution monitoring of an urban dust in Daejeon city,Korea by using instrumental neutron activation analysis

For air pollution monitoring, about 1300 airborne particulate matter samples were collected by using a low volume air sampler and a polycarbonate filter at two sampling sites in an urban region, Daejeon, the middle of Korea from 2003 to 2006. Mass concentrations of the black carbon were measured using a smoke stain reflectometer. The concentrations of 24 elements in the collected samples were analyzed by using instrumental neutron activation analysis, and its temporal trends and enrichment factors were investigated under different environmental conditions. Analytical control was carried out by using certified reference materials.     

Microwave Digestion of Thermoluminescent Aluminium-Oxide Powders and Determination of Trace Impurities by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy

 Five commercial and three laboratory prepared thermoluminescent aluminium-oxide powders as well as three reference samples were digested by a microwave digestion system and the impurities were determined by ICP-OES. The physico-chemical properties of the different samples were found to influence highly the decomposition efficiency. Optimized decompositi on parameters were determined for the samples with different physico-chemical properties (phase composition, grain size). The detection limits of the impurities of interest are presented, the analysis results for the aluminium- oxide dosimetric samples and the standards are given as well for Be, Ca, Ce, Cu, Fe, Cd, Mg, Mo, Na, Ni, Ti and Zn in the < 2–400 μg/g range. Received August 24, 1999. Revision December 1, 1999.     

超高效液相色谱-静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱法测定硝苯地平中痕量基因毒性杂质

建立了测定硝苯地平中基因毒性杂质2、6和12的超高效液相色谱-静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱法(UHPLC-Orbitrap HRMS).样品以甲醇为溶剂,提取后直接进样分析.采用ACE EXCELTM 3 C18-AR色谱柱(150 mm×4.6 mm,3μm)分离,流动相为甲醇-0.1％甲酸水(65:35,v/v),等度洗...     

Impurity profiling of seized MDMA tablets by capillary gas chromatography

Impurity profiles of 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA) tablets seized in France have been examined. The samples were extracted with methylene chloride under basic conditions and then analyzed by capillary gas chromatography. Almost 30 compounds were identified as precursors, intermediates and by-products. Palmitic and stearic acid were also found as tableting materials. The comparison of the different profiles obtained by the reported procedure provided very useful information about the synthetic processes used by clandestine laboratories and enabled a classification into several groups of profiles. According to these results, the reductive amination route appears to be the most common synthetic pathway in Western Europe. Furthermore, 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl-2-propanone seems to be the most used precursor in clandestine laboratories.