title: Analysis of ecstasy tablets using capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection.
abstract: A method for the identification of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) was developed employing capillary electrophoresis (CE) with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C(4) D). Sample extraction, separation, and detection of "Ecstasy" tablets were performed in <10 min without sample derivatization. The separation electrolyte was 20 mm TAPS/Lithium, pH 8.7. Average minimal detectable amounts for MDMA and mCPP were 0.04 mg/tablet, several orders of magnitude lower than the minimum amount encountered in a tablet. Seven different Ecstasy tablets seized in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were analyzed by CE-C(4) D and compared against routine gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The CE method demonstrated sufficient selectivity to discriminate the two target drugs, MDMA and mCPP, from the other drugs present in seizures, namely amphepramone, fenproporex, caffeine, lidocaine, and cocaine. Separation was performed in <90 sec. The advantages of using C(4) D instead of traditional CE-UV methods for in-field analysis are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, CEP 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Serviço de Perícias de Química, Instituto de Criminalística Carlos Éboli, R. Pedro I, 28, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Suely K S S
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.forename: Thiago
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blanes
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Doble
authors.forename: Bruno D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Sabino
authors.forename: Claudimir L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: do Lago
authors.forename: Lúcio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Angnes
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D064423:Drug Trafficking; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary / Q000379:methods*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000737:chemistry*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000737:chemistry; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000737:chemistry; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D013607:Tablets
chemical_list: D006213:Hallucinogens; D018020:Lithium Compounds; D010879:Piperazines; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; D013607:Tablets; C108789:3-(tris(hydroxymethyl)methylamino)-1-propanesulfonic acid; C028467:lithium hydroxide; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D019342:Acetic Acid; C015068:1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine
keywords: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; C4D; MDMA; capillary electrophoresis; contactless conductivity detection; forensic science; mCPP; meta-chlorophenylpiperazine