Abstract
In Australia and increasingly worldwide, methamphetamine is one of the most commonly seized drugs analysed by forensic chemists. The current well-established GC/MS methods used to identify and quantify methamphetamine are lengthy, expensive processes, but often rapid analysis is requested by undercover police leading to an interest in developing this new analytical technique. Ninety six illicit drug seizures containing methamphetamine (0.1%–78.6%) were analysed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy with an Attenuated Total Reflectance attachment and Chemometrics. Two Partial Least Squares models were developed, one using the principal Infrared Spectroscopy peaks of methamphetamine and the other a Hierarchical Partial Least Squares model. Both of these models were refined to choose the variables that were most closely associated with the methamphetamine % vector. Both of the models were excellent, with the principal peaks in the Partial Least Squares model having Root Mean Square Error of Prediction 3.8, R2 0.9779 and lower limit of quantification 7% methamphetamine. The Hierarchical Partial Least Squares model had lower limit of quantification 0.3% methamphetamine, Root Mean Square Error of Prediction 5.2 and R2 0.9637. Such models offer rapid and effective methods for screening illicit drug samples to determine the percentage of methamphetamine they contain.
Highlights
Worldwide, amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), which include methamphetamine (MA), are ranked as the second most commonly used drug after cannabis
The most common drug submitted for forensic analysis to Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services (QHFSS) is MA, accounting for approximately 40% of all submissions
A successful method for this analysis would have national, but international implications, as it could be applied anywhere and the technique could be extended to other illicit drugs; and, with the use of available portable attenuated total reflectance (ATR)-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectrometers and a laptop, could be applied for on-site analysis
Summary
Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), which include methamphetamine (MA), are ranked as the second most commonly used drug after cannabis. The most common drug submitted for forensic analysis to Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services (QHFSS) is MA, accounting for approximately 40% of all submissions This prevalence of one particular drug being presented for analysis to the scientists in the Illicit Drug section has led to an interest in developing a quick method of identifying and quantifying this illicit drug. The principal way that FTIR is used currently in the analysis of illicit drugs is through the use of spectral libraries to match the spectra of known compounds to the unknown (often a mixture). This technique is commonly used in identifying illicit drugs,. A successful method for this analysis would have national, but international implications, as it could be applied anywhere and the technique could be extended to other illicit drugs; and, with the use of available portable ATR-FTIR spectrometers and a laptop, could be applied for on-site analysis
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