High-sensitivity analysis of cyanide by capillary electrophoresis with fluorescence detection

A capillary electrophoretic method for a high-sensitivity analysis of cyanide has been developed. Cyanide was derivatized with 2,3-naphthalenedialdehyde and taurine to give a fluorescent product of 1-cyanobenz[f]isoindole. This compound was detected with high sensitivity by fluorescence detection. The detection limit was 0.1 ng/mL, and the calibration curve was linear over the range 0.1-200 ng/mL. The precision of the migration time of within-run assays (n = 6) of 1 ng/mL cyanide standard solution was 0.14%. The precision of the peak area for the same runs was 1.0%. This method was applicable to blood analysis. Detection of the cyanide derivative by UV was also examined.

Identification of reaction products of methamphetamine and hydrogen peroxide in hair dye and decolorant treatments by high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

The effect of hydrogen peroxide, a main component of hair dye and decolorant treatments, on methamphetamine (MA) was studied. Two analytical methods, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), were used for the separation and identification of MA derivatives. Mixtures of MA solutions and hydrogen peroxide that had been incubated at 39 degrees C for 24 h were shown to contain para-hydroxy MA by TLC and para-, meta- and ortho-hydroxy MAs by LC/MS. In addition, MA N-oxide and N-hydroxy MA were found in MA/hydrogen peroxide mixtures immediately after mixing. Therefore, we concluded that MA changed to MA N-oxide and N-hydroxy MA before changing to para-, meta- and ortho-hydroxy MAs.

Simultaneous chiral analysis of methamphetamine and related compounds by capillary electrophoresis

A capillary electrophoretic method for the simultaneous chiral analysis of nine cationic drugs (18 enantiomers) has been developed. These drugs are methamphetamine (MA), amphetamine, dimethylamphetamine, ephedrine (EP), norephedrine, methylephedrine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine. The chiral selector, which was added to the electrolyte, was a mixture of beta-cyclodextrin and heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin. The detection limits of all enantiomers were 0.1 microg/ml, and the intermediate precisions of migration time and peak area of within-run assays (n=6) were under 0.3% and 1.4%, respectively. The calibration curves of the peak area of (1R,2S)-(-)-EP and S-(+)-MA were linear in the range 0.2-500 microg/ml. This method was applicable to urine analysis.

Simultaneous determination of cyanide and thiocyanate in blood by ion chromatography with fluorescence and ultraviolet detection

An ion chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of cyanide and thiocyanate in blood has been developed. After extraction by adding water and methanol to blood, cyanide was derivatized with 2,3-naphthalenedialdehyde and taurine to give a fluorescent product of 1-cyanobenz[f]isoindole. This compound was detected with high sensitivity by fluorometry and the underivatized thiocyanate was detected by ultraviolet absorption. The detection limits were 3.8 pmol ml(-1) for cyanide and 86 pmol ml(-1) for thiocyanate, and the recoveries from blood were ca. 83% and ca. 100%, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of both anions in blood from smokers, non-smokers and fire victims.