Impurities profiling of seized crystals by GC/MS through 2016 in Iran
Archives of Medical Laboratory Sciences,
Vol. 3 No. 4 (2017),
26 September 2018
https://doi.org/10.22037/amls.v3i4.21485
Abstract
Background:Methamphetamine is a highly addictive psychoactive substance which threatens the health of individuals and society. Crystal methamphetamine is an industrial synthetic illegal substance which is made from many chemical reagents. The aim of this study was to analyze methamphetamine samples qualitatively in order to determine the components of this substance.
Material and Methods:In this study 112 samples of crystalline methamphetamine were analyzed that obtained from Legal Medicine Organization of Iran during the year 2016. In order to determine the chemical characteristics of in samples, Gas Chromatography-mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) were carried out on the samples.
Results:The results demonstrated that all samples contained methamphetamine. The most frequently occurring synthesis active ingredients, by-products and adulterants were acetic acid, amphetamine and dimethyl amphetamine. Other ingredients were N-formyl amphetamine, N-formyl methamphetamine, N-acetyl methamphetamine, N-acetyl amphetamine, benzyl amphetamine, 2-6-dimethyl-3,5-diphenyl pyridine, N-ethyl methamphetamine, ketamine, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. About 70% of samples contained phenmetrazine.
Conclusion:The chemical composition of crystal varies not only with methamphetamine content, but also in the adulterants. Illicit manufacture of methamphetamine results in the formation of some synthesis by-products. Identifying the composition of illicit amphetamines based on the presence or absence of other pharmaceuticals and by-products is presented in this study. All samples were methamphetamine. The fact that N-Benzyl 2-methylaziridine was the most frequently found impurity in the analyzed samples, indicates that most of the methamphetamine samples seized in Iran have been synthesized from ephedrine and pseudoephedrine as starting material.
- Methamphetamine
- Gas chromatography-mass Spectrometry
- Ephedrine
- Pseudoephedrine
- Nagai
How to Cite
References
National Police Agency of Japan, White Paper on Police, National Police Agency of Japan, Tokyo, 2005, pp. 191–192 (in Japanese).
Mehling R, Triggle D. Methamphetamine: Infobase Publishing; 2008.
Dayrit FM, Dumlao MC. Impurity profiling of methamphetamine hydrochloride drugs seized in the Philippines. Forensic science international. 2004;144(1):29-36.
Khajeamiri AR, Faizi M, Sohani F, Baheri T, Kobarfard F. Determination of impurities in illicit methamphetamine samples seized in Iran. Forensic science international. 2012;217(1):204-6.
Lee JS, Chung HS, Kuwayama K, Inoue H, Lee MY, Park JH. Determination of impurities in illicit methamphetamine seized in Korea and Japan. Analytica chimica acta. 2008;619(1):20-5.
Puthaviriyakorn V, Siriviriyasomboon N, Phorachata J, Pan-ox W, Sasaki T, Tanaka K. Identification of impurities and statistical classification of methamphetamine tablets (Ya-Ba) seized in Thailand. Forensic Science International. 2002;126(2):105-13.
Qi Y, Evans ID, McCluskey A. Australian Federal Police seizures of illicit crystalline methamphetamine (‘ice’) 1998–2002: impurity analysis. Forensic science international. 2006;164(2-3):201-10.
Qi Y, Evans I, McCluskey A. New impurity profiles of recent Australian imported ‘ice’: methamphetamine impurity profiling and the identification of (pseudo) ephedrine and Leuckart specific marker compounds. Forensic science international. 2007;169(2-3):173-80.
Zhang JX, Zhang DM, Han XG. Identification of impurities and statistical classification of methamphetamine hydrochloride drugs seized in China. Forensic science international. 2008;182(1-3):13-9.
Inoue H, Iwata YT, Kuwayama K. Characterization and profiling of methamphetamine seizures. Journal of health science. 2008;54(6):615-22.
Urano Y, Nagano T. Investigation of the origin of ephedrine and methamphetamine by stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry: a Japanese experience”. Bulletin on Narcotics: Science in Drug Control-the Role of Laboratory and Scientific Expertise. 2007;57(1):63.
Burns L. World Drug Report 2013 By United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime New York: United Nations, 2013ISBN: 978‐92‐1‐056168‐6, 151 pp. Grey literature. Drug and Alcohol Review. 2014;33(2):216-.
Khajeamiri AR, Faizi M, Sohani F, Baheri T, Kobarfard F. Determination of impurities in illicit methamphetamine samples seized in Iran. Forensic science international. 2012;217(1-3):204-6.
Kuwayama K, Inoue H, Phorachata J, Kongpatnitiroj K, Puthaviriyakorn V, Tsujikawa K, et al. Comparison and classification of methamphetamine seized in Japan and Thailand using gas chromatography with liquid–liquid extraction and solid-phase microextraction. Forensic science international. 2008;175(2-3):85-92.
Zhang JX, Zhang DM, Han XG. Identification of impurities and statistical classification of methamphetamine hydrochloride drugs seized in China. Forensic science international. 2008;182(1):13-9.
- Abstract Viewed: 305 times
- PDF Downloaded: 304 times