ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 4

Normalization of Residual Ions After Removal of the Base Peak in Electron Impact Mass Spectrometry
Buel, E
Vermont Forensic Laboratory, VT

Gagné, HM
Vermont Forensic Laboratory, VT

Steeves, JB
Vermont Forensic Laboratory, VT

(Received 23 August 1999; accepted 25 October 1999)

Abstract

The mass spectra of compounds that produce limited detail under electron impact conditions may yield useful data for identification purposes when further examined. Through the mathematical removal of the base peak, previously noninformative ions become discriminating and useful for identification. In this work we show that this process of base peak removal and the re-normalizing of the remaining ions is reproducible under a variety of conditions and can be valuable for compound identification.

Keywords:
forensic science, illicit drug identification, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, amphetamine, methamphetamine

Paper ID: JFS14789J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14789J
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.