Drugs: Analysis

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Drugs Analysis

• Dr. Jason Linville
• University of Alabama at Birmingham
• jglinvil_at_uab.edu

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Summary

• Analysis of Chemical Drugs
• Instrumental Examination
• Botanical Examination

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Chemical Examination

• White Powder or Pills

What are they?
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Drugs gt Chemical Exam

• 3 steps in processing unknown chemicals

• Screening step

• Sample preparation step

• Confirmatory test

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Drugs gt Chemical Exam gt Screening

• Color Test

• Small amount of chemical in spot plate

• Drop of color changing reagent added

• Color change noted

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Drugs gt Chemical Exam gt Screening

• Color Test

• Several tests done at same time.

• Adulterants or diluents may affect color

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Drugs gt Chemical Exam gt Screening

• Microcrystal Test

• Small amount of sample dissolved in solution.

• Test reagent added contains another chemical
  that reacts with drug.

• Insoluble crystal formed.

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Drugs gt Chemical Exam gt Screening

• Microcrystal Test

• Shape of crystal suggests type of drug.

• Impurities may cause unusual crystal formation.

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Drugs gt Chemical Exam gt Screening

• Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)

• Dot of drug placed at bottom of paper or thin
  silica plate

• Bottom dipped in solvent solvent diffuses up
  plate

• Solvent carries drug up paper distance depends
  on drug

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Drugs gt Chemical Exam gt Screening

• Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)

• Different solvents result in different distances

• Some systems include color change components

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Drugs gt Chemical Exam gt Screening

• UV Spectroscopy

• Sample dissolved in liquid placed in cuvette.

• A range of UV light wavelengths are passed
  through solution.

• Some light will pass through some light will be
  absorbed

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Drugs gt Chemical Exam gt Screening

• UV Spectroscopy

Different drugs create a different pattern
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Drugs gt Chemical Exam gt Screening

• Gas Chromatography

Similar to TLC different chemicals will move at
different rates through a capillary.
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Drugs gt Chemical Exam gt Screening

• Gas Chromatography

The time it takes to pass through the capillary
gives an indication of which drug it is.
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Botanical Examination

• With botanical evidence, additional steps can be
  added to the screening process.

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Drugs gt Botanical Exam

• Marijuana

• Macroscopic Exam Leaf and stem structure

• Microscopic Exam Tiny hairs on leaf surface

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Drugs gt Botanical Exam

• Marijuana (Resin ID)

Color test Tests for chemical THC
TLC Tests for chemical THC
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Drugs gt Botanical Exam

• Peyote

Macroscopic Exam Look for cotton-like tufts
Test for alkaloids TLC Gas chromatography
Confirming mescaline not necessary
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Drugs gt Botanical Exam

• Mushrooms

Macroscopic Exam Can identify mushrooms that
contain psilocybin
Screen for psilocybin Color test, TLC, and UV
spectroscopy
Confirmed with MS and IR spec (later slides)
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Drugs

• Screening Summary

• All screening tests give an indication of what
  the drug is.

• Since some drugs behave alike during screening
  tests, confirmation of the drug type is needed.

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Drugs

• Sample Preparation

• In many cases, the identity of the drug must be
  confirmed for prosecution.

• Before identification, it must be separated from
  other chemicals in the mixture

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Drugs gt Sample Preparation

• Sample Preparation (Separation)

• Physical Separation particles are separated
  based on microscopic appearance.

• Dry Wash or Dry Extraction
• Dry Wash Liquid dissolves adulterants solid
  drug left behind
• Dry Extraction Liquid dissolves drug solid
  adulterants left behind

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Drugs gt Sample Preparation

• Sample Preparation (Separation)

• Liquid/Liquid Extraction
• Entire sample dissolved in aqueous (water) liquid
• Organic liquid (oil-like) mixed with solution
• Organic liquid removes adulterants
• Sample remains in aqueous layer

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Confirmation Techniques
Heroin?
Confirmation identifies the specific type of drug.
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Drugs gt Confirmation

• Mass Spectroscopy

• MS will smash a molecule into pieces and measure
  the mass of the pieces.

• Every drug will break in a unique way, creating a
  unique amount of pieces.

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Drugs gt Confirmation

• Mass Spectroscopy

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Drugs gt Confirmation

• Infrared Spectroscopy

• Similar to UV spectroscopy, except a range of
  infrared light wavelengths are passed through a
  sample.

• Some light passes through some light is absorbed.

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Drugs gt Confirmation

• Infrared Spectroscopy

• Different drugs different patterns
• Pattern is specific to one drug