A low-voltage paper spray ionization QTOF-MS method for the qualitative analysis of NPS in street drug blotter samples

Abstract

Analysis of new psychoactive substances (NPS) requires high selective analytical methodologies, including high-resolution mass spectrometry. In addition, the development/application of a suitable sample preparation step can provide methods in which low amounts of solvents and samples are used, as well as minimal sample manipulation is required. Herein, the use of ambient ionization techniques such as paper spray emerges as a powerful tool to enhance the performance of methodologies, particularly in forensic sciences. In this study, low-voltage paper spray ionization coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS) method was developed and employed for the qualitative analysis of NPS in street drug blotter samples. Analysis revealed the presence of LSD (m/z 324.2058); 25C-NBOH (m/z 322.1212); 25E-NBOH (m/z 316.1917); 25I-NBOMe (m/z 428.0699); DOB (m/z 274.0432); and 4′-fluoro-α-pyrrolidinohexanophenone (m/z 264.1768) in the samples analyzed. This technique was successfully applied for the analysis of NPS and allowed for fast and accurate analytical method that can be highly exploited in forensic screening purposes.