title: Rapid determination of carbohydrates in heroin drug seizures using capillary electrophoresis with short-end injection.
abstract: A simple and rapid method for the analysis of carbohydrates in heroin samples by capillary electrophoresis utilizing a borate complexation method is described. Separations were performed using an uncoated fused silica capillary, 50 cm x 50 micro I.D. x 360 microm O.D. with an effective separation length of 9 cm. The system was run at 60 degrees C with an applied voltage of -8 kilovolts. Injection of each sample was for 1 sec at -50 mbar. UV detection was employed with the wavelength set at 195 nm. The background electrolyte consisted of 65 mM borate, pH 12.0. Samples and standards were prepared in the run buffer containing 2 mg/mL of mannose as an internal standard. Under these conditions a test mixture containing glucose, sucrose, lactose, mannitol and mannose as an internal standard was resolved within 5 min. The method was used to determine the concentration of carbohydrates in heroin seizure samples and synthetic heroin samples. The results were in good agreement with the reported values.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic 3217, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Anastos
authors.forename: Neil W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: Simon W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: K Paul
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Kirkbride