Examination of thermal
decomposition of street samples of cocaine
and methamphetamine shows that typical products detected in previous
studies are accompanied by a wide palette of simple volatile compounds
easily detectable by spectral techniques. These molecules increase
smoke toxicity and their spectral detection can be potentially used
for identification of drug samples by well-controlled laboratory thermolysis
in temperature progression. In our study, street samples of cocaine
and methamphetamine have been thermolyzed under vacuum over the temperature
range of 350–650 °C. The volatile products (CO, HCN, CH4, C2H4, etc.) have been monitored by
high-resolution Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry in
this temperature range. The decomposition mechanism has been additionally
examined theoretically by quantum-chemical calculations for the highest
temperature achieved experimentally in our study and beyond. Prior
to analysis, the street samples have also been characterized by FTIR,
Raman spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and melting
point determination.
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