ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 January 2005
Page Count: 6

The Rapid Analysis of Heroin Drug Seizures Using Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography with Short-End Injection
Pearson, JR
Victoria Police Forensic Services Centre, VIC

Kirkbride, KP
Forensic Science South Australia, Forensic Science Centre, SA

Barnett, NW
School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Deakin University, VIC

Anastos, N
School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Deakin University, VIC

Lewis, SW
School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Deakin University, VIC

(Received 8 May 2004; accepted 7 June 2004)

Abstract

A simple and rapid method for the analysis of heroin seizures by micellar electrokinetic chromatography with short-end injection is described. Separations were performed using an uncoated fused silica capillary, 50 cm × 50 µm I.D. × 360 µm O.D. with an effective separation length of 8 cm. The system was run at 25°C with an applied negative voltage of -5 kilovolts. Injection of each sample was for 2s at -50 mbar. UV detection was employed with the wavelength set at 210 nm. The background electrolyte consisted of 85:15 (water:acetonitrile, v/v) containing final concentrations of 25 mM SDS and 15 mM sodium borate, pH 9.5. Samples and standards were prepared in 0.1% v/v acetic acid and diluted in the run buffer containing 1 mg/ml of N,N-dimethyl-5-methoxytryptamine as an internal standard. Under these conditions a text mixture containing caffeine, paracetamol, morphine, codeine, heroin, and acetylcodeine was resolved within 1.5 min. The method was used to determine the concentration of heroin in heroin seizure samples, and the results were in good agreement with those obtained by a validated gas chromatographic method.

Keywords:
forensic science, short-end injection, micellar electrokinetic chromatography, heroin seizures

Paper ID: JFS2004183
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2004183
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