Electrochemical detection of eutylone using screen-printed electrodes: Rapid and simple screening method for application in forensic samples

Abstract

In this work, the electrochemical detection of eutylone (EUT), a synthetic cathinone that has been widely used as an illicit stimulant drug is presented for the first time. The electrochemical behavior of EUT was studied using an unmodified glassy carbon electrode and a carbon graphite screen printed electrode (SPE-Gr), where two irreversible oxidation processes were exhibited at around +0.9 V and +1.2 V (vs Ag/AgCl). EUT determination was optimized in 0.1 mol dm−3 borate buffer solution (pH 10.0) at SPE-Gr using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) detection. The proposed method provided a low LOD (0.33 μmol dm−3) for EUT detection in seized samples with a suitable stability of the electrochemical response using the same or different SPEs. Additionally, the reuse of SPE-Gr for EUT screening in seized samples was successfully demonstrated for many times, providing a low-cost method for application in forensics analysis. Interference studies were performed with other synthetic cathinones, adulterants and illicit drugs found with EUT, showing a good selectivity of the electrochemical response. Furthemore, the addition-recovery and identification studies in seized samples were close to 100 %. Results were confirmed by liquid cromatography mass spectrometry analyses. The analytical performance of the SPE-Gr with DPV suggests a great potential of the proposed method as an easy, fast and inexpensive screening of EUT in seized samples.