NCJ Number
16714
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 19 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1974) Pages: 463-485
Date Published
1974
Length
23 pages
Annotation
A DISCUSSION OF THE APPLICATION OF ISOBUTANE CHEMICAL IONIZATION (CI) MASS SPECTROSCOPY TO THE FORENSIC IDENTIFICATION OF DRUGS.
Abstract
CI SPECTRAL DATA FOR 303 DRUGS AND COMMON DILUENTS HAVE BEEN COMPILED AND PRESENTED. THESE SPECTRA ARE CHARACTERIZED BY THEIR RELATIVE SIMPLICITY. THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPOUNDS ANALYZED SHOW AN MH+ PEAK WITH FOUR OR LESS FRAGMENTATION IONS IN ABUNDANCES GREATER THAN 10 PERCENT. A RELATIVELY SIMPLE AND INEXPENSIVE SEARCH SYSTEM IS SUGGESTED FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF DRUGS AND DILUENTS BY CI. THE ADVENT OF THIS NEW TECHNIQUE AS A SUPPLEMENT FOR CONVENTIONAL EI (ELECTRON IMPACT) SPECTROSCOPY PROMISES TO EXPAND THE VERSATILITY OF THE MASS SPECTROMETER IN THE FORENSIC SCIENCES. THE ANALYST NOW HAS THE OPTION OF EITHER PERFORMING A DIRECT ANALYSIS ON A SUSPECT DRUG WITHOUT PRIOR CHROMATOGRAPHIC TREATMENT, OR ALTERNATIVELY UTILIZING THE UNIT IN A CI OR CONVENTIONAL EI MODE WITH A GAS CHROMATOGRAPH INTERFACE. A VARIETY OF REAGENT GASES ARE NOW KNOWN, SO THAT THE ANALYST CAN CONTROL THE COMPLEXITY AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CI SPECTRUM PRODUCED. ISOBUTANE CI HAS SUCCESSFULLY BEEN APPLIED FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF DRUG MIXTURES IN POWDERS AND PILLS AS WELL AS TO THE DETECTION OF DRUGS PRESENT IN GASTRIC CONTENTS, URINE, AND BLOOD. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)