The high explosives trinitrotoluene, nitroglycerine, pentaerythritol tetranitrate and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine are efficiently ionised under negative ion atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) conditions. The limit of detection is improved, in some cases by several orders of magnitude, by complexation with chlorine demonstrating this to be a highly suitable method for enhancing the detection capabilities for explosives. The spectra produced from introduction of the analytes in a liquid matrix, with and without chlorine present, contain a number of ions that arise through secondary processes including breakdown and adduct formation. Sample introduction into an APCI source in air, via a heated-plate inlet with a supplementary feed of dichloromethane, produces improved response for the chloride adducts of the analytes and minimises their decomposition during analysis. The tandem mass spectra produced from the chloride adducts are simple. Optimisation of the trapping parameters of the ion trap detector enhances selected transitions, yields highly reproducible spectra and improves the limits of detection for MS/MS analysis.
Combined delta2H, delta13C and delta15N isotopic analysis of MDA and MDMA extracted from seized "ecstasy" tablets provides an isotopic "fingerprint" of the active ingredient allowing individual tablets to be linked to a common batch. Correlating these data with 2H NMR analysis of the extracts has the potential to study both the natural precursor materials and synthetic pathways used in the preparation of MDA and N-substituted homologues.
The ability to thermally desorb directly particulate matter, trapped on filter meshes, into the atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation source of a tandem mass spectrometer allowed the simultaneous detection of a range of controlled substances within complex matrices with a high degree of confidence. Dust samples were collected from bundles of banknotes using simple apparatus attached to a portable vacuum cleaner. This technique was employed without additional clean-up procedures, rendering the overall method extremely rapid. The intensities recorded for characteristic gas phase ion transitions allow the determination of the amounts of contaminants present. It has been reported that a significant proportion of bundles of banknotes are contaminated with cocaine. This study found that cocaine and heroin (and two related opiates) were present above the detection threshold on UK banknotes from general circulation. Differences in both the frequency and degree of contamination were apparent between bundles of banknotes from general circulation and those suspected of being associated with the trafficking of drugs. In addition, a significant number of bundles of banknotes, confiscated by H.M. Customs and Excise, were found to be contaminated with detectable levels of tetrahydrocannabinol and 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.