The impurity characteristics of methamphetamine synthesized by Emde and Nagai method

• Published in: Forensic science international 2007-08, Vol.170 (2), p.142-147
• Main Authors: Ko, Beom Jun, Suh, SungIll, Suh, Yong Jun, In, Moon Kyo, Kim, Sung-Hong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Classification; Emde method; Forensic medicine; Forensic sciences; General aspects; Impurity profiling; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Mass spectrometry; Medical sciences; Methamphetamine; Methods; Nagai method; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Pathology; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
• ISSN: 0379-0738; 1872-6283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.03.029

Abstract Impurity profiling and classification of seized methamphetamine may play an important role in the interpretation of analytical results, the determination of the synthetic method employed, and the criminal investigations of drug traffic routes. Our study is focused on classifying seized methamphetamine samples according to the groups sorted by the types and quantities of impurities present in illicit methamphetamine samples. The samples (100 mg) were dissolved in 2 mL of potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), extracted with 200 μL of ethyl acetate under basic condition, and then analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) with a DB-1 capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm i.d., 0.25 μm). Five impurities are used as criteria for the classification of seized methamphetamine samples by Emde and Nagai method. A total of fifty-two samples of seized methamphetamine were analyzed by GC–MS and classified by five organic impurities, and then sorted into four groups, which are Nagai type, Emde Type, Undetermined I type, and Undetermined II type.