Validated green phenyl reversed-phase LC method using ethanol to determine MDMA in seized ecstasy tablets

Autor(es)

Duarte, Leandro Oka ^[1] ; Ferreira, Bruno ^[1] ; Silva, Gabriela R. ^[2] ; Ipolito, Antonio J. ^[3] ; de Oliveira, Marcelo F. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Quim, BR-14040900 Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

^[2] Ctr Univ Barao de Maua, Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

^[3] Superintendencia Policia Tecn Cient, Nucleo Pericias Criminalist, Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Journal of Liquid Chromatography & Related Technologies; v. 43, n. 17-18 SEP 2020.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a popular illicit drug. Given its adverse effects, the growing abuse of MDMA worldwide, and the need for forensic chemistry methods that minimize environmental issues, here we report a green approach for quantitative MDMA analysis in ecstasy tablets based on phenyl reversed-phase liquid-chromatography coupled to a diode-array detector. Water with 0.1% formic acid (pH adjusted to 5.00 with ammonium hydroxide) and ethanol (85:15, v/v) was employed as the mobile phase. The method showed good analytical performance in terms of linearity (0.0031-0.1 mg mL(-1),R-2= 0.9998), precision (1.26-7.79%), accuracy (93.5-107.7%), and recovery (96.6-100.6%). The limits of detection and quantification were 0.0007 and 0.0031 mg mL(-1), respectively. The MDMA purity ranged from 14.7% to 35.1% (m/m). Additionally, greenness assessment using an eco-scale metric provided a score. The results indicated that the simultaneous use of ethanol and phenyl-bonded phase provides high selectivity and is suitable and reliable for routine analysis of seized ecstasy samples, constituting a powerful alternative to expensive mass spectrometer-based liquid chromatography and common reversed-phase columns. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 16/23825-3 - Desenvolvimento de sensores voltamétricos para determinação de cocaína e delta-9-tetraidrocanabinol em amostras apreendidas pela polícia
• Beneficiário: Marcelo Firmino de Oliveira
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular