Comprehensive gas chromatographic analysis of heroin street samples.
A comprehensive analytical approach for heroin street samples is faced with problems associated with differences in polarity, stability and physico-chemical properties of the various substances present. Difficulties with carbohydrates are of particular concern. In this method, which is suitable for screening purposes, 10 mg of sample is dissolved in acetonitrile-trifluoroacetic acid in the presence of methyl orange. Derivatization is then accomplished by O-silylation (MSTFA) and N-trifluoroacetylation (MBTFA). Compounds were detected by flame ionization after a capillary gas chromatographic separation and produced well shaped peaks for the majority of substances. Sugars gave multiple but reproducible chromatographic peaks. By direct derivatization of another aliquot of the solid sample a single predominant chromatographic peak can be obtained for sugars using MSTFA with MBTFA. Alternatively the more potent reagent MSHFB gives highly reproducible results.
de la Torre
R
R
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institut Municipal d'Investigació Mèdica, Passeig Marítim 25-29, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
Ortuño
J
J
Cami
J
J
Segura
J
J