The efficacy of alkalized liquid hydrogen peroxide for the remediation of manufactured methamphetamine in clandestine laboratories

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of alkalized liquid hydrogen peroxide (A-LHP) as a “low tech” decontamination option to reduce methamphetamine from non-porous and porous building materials. The A-LHP decontamination solution was generated by adding sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) to 15% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) until the solution was slightly alkaline with a pH of 8.5. The efficacy of alkalized liquid H2O2 against methamphetamine was initially evaluated in the liquid–liquid simulated stirred reactor Phase I testing. Phase II testing evaluated A-LHP decontamination from common building materials (stainless steel, painted drywall, glass, and vinyl tile) contaminated with aerosolized methamphetamine (at surface concentration levels of 1000–10,000 μg per 100 cm2, respectively). For liquid–liquid based decontamination tests after 4 h, the average reduction of methamphetamine burden was 97% ± 3. For 10,000 μg of methamphetamine per 100 cm2, surface decontamination efficacy values were 29%–76%, depending on the building material. For 1000 μg of methamphetamine per 100 cm2, surface concentrations decontamination rates between 82% and 93% were achieved. These data suggest that this “low-tech” decontamination technology can provide greater than 80% reduction of high concentrated methamphetamine from the common building materials tested, with decontamination rates reaching thousands of micrograms per 100 cm2.