ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 8

Efficiency of Capillary Column Gas Chromatography in Separating Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) and Lysergic Acid Methylpropylamide (LAMPA)
Stafford, DT
Director of Toxicology Lab and laboratory supervisor, Toxicology Lab University of Tennessee, TN

Nichols, HS
Director of Toxicology Lab and laboratory supervisor, Toxicology Lab University of Tennessee, TN

Anderson, WH
Assistant chief toxicologist, Office of Chief Medical Examiner, OK

(Received 12 March 1983; accepted 12 April 1983)

Abstract

A question frequently asked of forensic drug chemists when they go to court on lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) cases is, “How do you know this sample was not lysergic acid methylpropylamide (LAMPA) instead of LSD?” There are chromatographic means of separating the two compounds, but some of these are not very chromatographically efficient and others require time-consuming preparation of the chromatographic system. The separation on methyl silicone fused silica capillary columns described here can be performed routinely in a very time effective manner. One of the more interesting aspects of this work is the efficiency of the capillary system in this application. This combined with the inertness of the fused silica column and injection port liner, makes a very powerful and flexible means for addressing the separation problem and providing an answer to the original question.

Keywords:
toxicology, lysergic acid, chromatographic analysis

Paper ID: JFS11662J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11662J
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