Publication
Title
Identifying electrochemical fingerprints of ketamine with voltammetry and LC-MS for its detection in seized samples
Author
Abstract
Herein, a straightforward electrochemical approach for the determination of ketamine in street samples and seizures is presented by employing screen-printed electrodes (SPE). Square wave voltammetry (SWV) is used to study the electrochemical behavior of the illicit drug, thus profiling the different oxidation states of the substance at different pHs. Besides, the oxidation pathway of ketamine on SPE is investigated for the first time with liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration curve of ketamine at buffer solution (pH 12) exhibits a sensitivity of 8.2 µA µM-1, a linear relationship between 50-2500 µM with excellent reproducibility (RSD= 2.2%, at 500 µM, n=7), and a limit of detection (LOD) of 11.7 µM. Subsequently, binary mixtures of ketamine with adulterants and illicit drugs are analyzed with SWV to investigate the electrochemical fingerprint. Moreover, the profile overlapping between different substances is addressed by the introduction of an electrode pretreatment, and the integration of a tailor-made script for data treatment. Finally, the approach is tested on street samples from forensic seizures. Overall, this system allows for the on-site identification of ketamine by the law enforcement agents in an easy-to-use and rapid manner on cargos and seizures, thereby disrupting the distribution channel and avoiding the illicit drug to reach the end-user.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Analytical chemistry. - Washington, D.C., 1948, currens
Publication
Washington, D.C. : 2020
ISSN
0003-2700 [print]
5206-882X [online]
DOI
10.1021/ACS.ANALCHEM.0C02810
Volume/pages
92 :19 (2020) , p. 13485-13492
Article Reference
acs.analchem.0c02810
ISI
000580426800091
Pubmed ID
32786496
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Border detection of illicit drugs and precursors by highly accurate electrosensors (BorderSens).
Electrosensing smart device for multi-drug detection (E-DRUGSENS).
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 11.08.2020
Last edited 12.12.2024
To cite this reference