Comparative analysis of illicit heroin samples

✍ Scribed by M. Chiarotti; N. Fucci; C. Furnari

• Book ID: 103903558
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 865 KB
• Volume: 50
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0379-0738
• DOI: 10.1016/0379-0738(91)90132-3

✦ Synopsis

The comparative analysis of street heroin samples is still an object of scientific discussion. A combination of a wide range of analytical techniques is necessary to obtain a valid amount of information about the sample composition, and it is impossible to define an unique analytical approach. We suggest a complete analytical sequence based on analysis of volatile compounds, opiates, diluents, adulterants and metals, by head space gas chromatography (HS/GC), gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS), thin layer chromatography (TLC), high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and atomic absorption (AA) using a sample amount as low as 50-100 mg. The outlined procedure can be successfully applied to routine work, thus obtaining suitable information about a sample's chemical composition. This helps to attribute or exclude common sources of separate specimens. Results obtained on 33 street heroin samples confiscated in the metropolitan area of Rome are listed.