Drugs: Analysis

Summary

Analysis of Chemical Drugs

Instrumental Examination
Botanical Examination

Chemical Examination
White Powder or Pills

What are they?

Drugs > Chemical Exam

3 steps in processing unknown chemicals:

Screening step

Sample preparation step

Confirmatory test

Drugs > Chemical Exam > Screening

Color Test

Small amount of
chemical in spot plate

Drop of color changing

reagent added

Color change noted

Drugs > Chemical Exam > Screening

Color Test

Several tests done at

same time.

Adulterants or diluents
may affect color

Drugs > Chemical Exam > Screening

Microcrystal Test

Small amount of sample

dissolved in solution.

Test reagent added;

contains another
chemical that reacts with
drug.
Insoluble crystal formed.

Drugs > Chemical Exam > Screening

Microcrystal Test

Shape of crystal suggests

type of drug.

Impurities may cause

unusual crystal formation.

Drugs > Chemical Exam > 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

Drugs > Chemical Exam > Screening

Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)

Different solvents result in

different distances

Some systems include

color change components

Drugs > Chemical Exam > 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

Drugs > Chemical Exam > Screening

UV Spectroscopy

Different drugs create a different pattern

Drugs > Chemical Exam > Screening

Gas Chromatography

Similar to TLC; different chemicals will move at

different rates through a capillary.

Drugs > Chemical Exam > Screening

Gas Chromatography

The time it takes to pass through the capillary

gives an indication of which drug it is.

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

Drugs > Botanical Exam

Marijuana

Macroscopic Exam:
Leaf and stem structure

Microscopic Exam:
Tiny hairs on leaf surface

Drugs > Botanical Exam

Marijuana (Resin ID)

Color test:
Tests for chemical THC

TLC:
Tests for chemical THC

Drugs > Botanical Exam

Peyote
Macroscopic Exam:
Look for cotton-like tufts

Test for alkaloids:

TLC & Gas chromatography

Confirming mescaline not necessary

Drugs > 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)

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.

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

Drugs > Sample Preparation

Sample Preparation (Separation)

1.

Physical Separation: particles are

separated based on microscopic appearance.

2.

Dry Wash or Dry Extraction

Dry Wash: Liquid dissolves adulterants;
solid drug left behind
Dry Extraction: Liquid dissolves drug;
solid adulterants left behind

Drugs > Sample Preparation

Sample Preparation (Separation)

Liquid/Liquid Extraction:

3.

Entire sample dissolved in aqueous (water)

liquid
Organic liquid (oil-like) mixed with solution
Organic liquid removes adulterants
Sample remains in aqueous layer

Confirmation Techniques

Heroin?

Confirmation identifies the specific type of drug.

Drugs > 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.

Drugs > Confirmation

Mass Spectroscopy

Drugs > 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.

Drugs > Confirmation

Infrared Spectroscopy

Different drugs = different patterns

Pattern is specific to one drug