This paper describes the analysis of drugs of abuse using capillary electrophoresis coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (CE-ESI-MS). The unique identification of drugs was achieved by observing protonated molecular ions and characteristic fragment ions. The experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of the method, but additional method development and/or validation may be required for routine use.
The document describes a method for identifying drugs of abuse using capillary electrophoresis coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (CE-ESI-MS). It details the experimental setup involving an Agilent CE system connected to an Agilent MSD module, utilizing specific instrumentation and software controls.
Results show that protonated molecular ions and characteristic fragment ions allow for unique identification of substances such as LSD. The method successfully separates mixtures including methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin, providing rapid and unequivocal identification suitable for drug seizure analysis.
The analysis covered LSD and a mixture containing methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin.
The preparation procedure required flushing the capillary for 30 minutes with 1 N NaOH.
Methamphetamine underwent collision-induced dissociation at a fragmentor voltage of 100 V.