ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 27 July 2005
Page Count: 5

Rapid Determination of Carbohydrates in Heroin Drug Seizures Using Capillary Electrophoresis with Short-End Injection
Pearson, JR
Victoria Police Forensic Services Centre, VIC

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

Barnett, NW
Deakin University, VIC

Anastos, N
Deakin University, VIC

Lewis, SW
Deakin University, VIC

(Received 29 December 2004; accepted 9 April 2005)

Abstract

A simple and rapid method for the analysis of carbohydrates in heroin samples by capillary electrophoresis utilizing a borate complexation method is described. Separations were performed using an uncoated fused silica capillary, 50 cm × 50 μm I.D. × 360μm O.D. with an effective separation length of 9 cm. The system was run at 60°C with an applied voltage of −8 kilovolts. Injection of each sample was for 1 sec at −50 mbar. UV detection was employed with the wavelength set at 195 nm. The background electrolyte consisted of 65 mM borate, pH 12.0. Samples and standards were prepared in the run buffer containing 2 mg/mL of mannose as an internal standard. Under these conditions a test mixture containing glucose, sucrose, lactose, mannitol and mannose as an internal standard was resolved within 5 min. The method was used to determine the concentration of carbohydrates in heroin seizure samples and synthetic heroin samples. The results were in good agreement with the reported values.

Keywords:
forensic science, capillary electrophoresis, carbohydrates, heroin seizures, borate, short-end injection

Paper ID: JFS2004549
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2004549
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