ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 11

Coca Paste: Chemical Analysis and Smoking Experiments
Jones, AB
Research professor, Research of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MS

ElSohly, MA
Research professor, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS

Brenneisen, R
Visiting research professor, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS

(Received 8 December 1989; accepted 12 February 1990)

Abstract

Several samples of Colombian and a sample of Peruvian coca paste were subjected to chemical analysis to ascertain the complexity of these products. A neutral and acid fraction and a basic fraction were analyzed by gas chromatography/flame ionization detection (GC/FID) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The basic fraction was also analyzed as its trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivative. Several gasoline residue components were identified in the neutral fraction. In addition to cocaine (>60% in all cases), other alkaloids were identified. Lead and manganese analyses were carried out on these samples. While all the samples contained no lead (<45 ppm), most of the Colombian samples contained significant amounts of manganese (>5%). Preliminary smoking experiments with a Colombian coca paste sample indicated that it behaves more like free cocaine than like a cocaine sulfate salt.

Keywords:
toxicology, coca paste, cocaine

Paper ID: JFS13010J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13010J
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