HPLC analysis of cocaine diastereoisomers by chiral stationary phase

Comparative analysis of heroin and cocaine seizures

In this brief review the analytical techniques mainly used for comparative analysis of both cocaine and heroin seizures are reported. The characterization of illicit samples is carried out by means of a variety of techniques including thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and capillary electrophoresis. By means of these technique it is possible to resolve some component in illicit drugs and their application for comparative analyses is described in this review. Owing to the complexity and the variability of the mixture related to the origin and manufacturing impurities a unique analytical approach based on the application of a single technique it is not sufficient to achieve the requested global characterization of the sample for comparative purposes. Generally a complete characterization is obtained focusing on the identification of minor and major components, origin and manufacturing impurities other than trace compounds such as solvent residues. Nevertheless the application of a single robust methods able to resolve any possible significant marker compounds, is still not described and there is a need for a standardized general procedure suitable for a complete cross-examination of analytical data related to comparative analyses that can be carried out at an international level.

Comparative chemical analyses of drug samples: general approach and application to heroin

The methodology used for the comparative chemical analyses of illicit drug seizures, and its application to a heroin comparison case, is described. The illicit drug sample is subjected to a three-step procedure. The first is the qualitative and quantitative analysis of each sample, i.e. identification and quantitation of major and minor constituents. The second is the analysis of trace level impurities contained in each sample, after isolation from the drug matrix. The last step is the isotopic analysis of each sample, i.e. the determination of the isotopic enrichment of the major constituents. That analytical procedure, applied to heroin, allowed the determination of common batch samples with a high degree of certainty.

In-depth chromatographic analyses of illicit cocaine and its precursor, coca leaves

Chromatographic methodology used for the in-depth alkaloid analyses of coca leaves and for the characterization of alkaloidal impurities and manufacturing by-products in illicit refined cocaine samples is reviewed. This includes liquid-liquid partition and liquid-solid adsorption column chromatography, packed- and capillary-column gas chromatography with flame-ionization, electron-capture, nitrogen-phosphorous and mass spectrometric detection, and high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The rationale supporting the presence and determination of processing impurities/by-products in cocaine samples is discussed, and chromatographic methodology used for the development of drug impurity signature profiles is presented.