Rapid determination of scopolamine in evidence of recreational and predatory use

Determination of scopolamine and butylscopolamine in beverages, urine and Buscopan® tablets samples using electrophoresis microchip with integrated contactless conductivity detection

The number of cases in which scopolamine (SCO) was used for both recreational and predatory purposes has increased dramatically in recent decades. Linked to this, there is a concern about obtaining SCO through thermal degradation of butylscopolamine (BSCO) - an active ingredient of Buscopan® - a drug sold without a medical prescription. In this study, mixtures containing SCO and BSCO were separated and detected on a microchip electrophoresis (ME) device with integrated capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D) using a running buffer composed of 40 mmol L-1 of butyric acid and 25 mmol L-1 of sodium hydroxide (pH 5.0). The separation was performed within ca. 115 s with a resolution of 1.3 and separation efficiency ranging from 1.4 × 105 to 1.5 × 105 theoretical plates m-1. A detection limit of 1.1 μmol L-1 was achieved for both species and the developed method revealed satisfactory repeatability with relative standard deviation (RSD) values for forty-eight injections between 4.8 and 9.4% for peak areas and lower than 3.3% for migration times. Furthermore, inter-day precision was evaluated for sixteen injections (a sequence of four injections performed over four days), and RSD values were less than 6.6% for peak areas and 2.2% for migration times. Satisfactory recovery values (95-114%) were obtained for all evaluated beverage samples (cachaça, vodka, whiskey, beer, Coca-Cola, and grape juice) as well as for artificial urine samples (95-107%). Finally, the conversion of BSCO into SCO was observed after simple heating procedure of Buscopan® sample (not subject to medical prescription), which was successfully confirmed through analysis by capillary electrophoresis coupled to the mass spectrometry (CE-MS). Based on the reported results, the use of ME-C4D devices has demonstrated a huge potential for applications in the forensic chemistry field.

Second Skin as Self-Protection Against γ-Hydroxybutyrate

γ-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a date-rape drug, causes certain symptoms, such as amnesia, confusion, ataxia, and unconsciousness, when dissolved in beverages and consumed by a victim. Commonly, assailants use GHB in secret for the crime of drug-facilitated sexual assault because it is tasteless, odorless, and colorless when dissolved in beverages. Generally, GHB detection methods are difficult to use promptly and secretly in situ and in real life because of the necessary detection equipment and low selectivity. To overcome this problem, we have developed a fast, simple, and easy-to-use second skin platform as a confidential self-protection platform that can detect GHB in situ or in real life without equipment. The second skin platform for naked-eye detection of GHB is fabricated with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), polyurethane (PU), and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) included in the chemical receptor 2-(3-bromo-4-hydroxystyryl)-3-ethylbenzothiazol-3-ium iodide (BHEI). PAN conjugated with BHEI nanofibers (PB NFs) has various characteristics, such as ease of use, high sensitivity, and fast color change. PB NFs rapidly detected GHB at 0.01 mg/mL. Furthermore, the second-skin platform attached to the fingertip and wrist detected both 1 and 0.1 mg/mL GHB in solution within 50 s. The color changes caused by the interaction of GHB and the second skin platform cannot be stopped due to strong chemical reactions. In addition, a second skin platform can be secretly utilized in real life because it can recognize fingerprints and object temperatures. Therefore, the second skin platform can be used to aid daily life and prevent drug-facilitated sexual assault crime when attached to the skin because it can be exposed anytime and anywhere.

Portable capillary electrophoresis coupled with swab-based extraction device for cleaning validation in pharmaceutical facilities

All pharmaceutical manufacturers are required to verify that their production equipment is free from contaminants. Here, we report the capability of a fully automated portable capillary electrophoresis instrument with an integrated sample swab extraction - the Grey Scan ETD-100 - for the detection of pharmaceutical residues on surfaces of manufacturing equipment. Lidocaine was used as a model compound and could be recovered from a surface by swabbing, extracted from the swab, and analysed within 1 min. The recovery of lidocaine from a stainless-steel coupon was 81.3 %, with a LOD of 0.13 µg/swab. This fast, sensitive, and simple method implemented on a user-friendly portable CE instrument without the need for manual sample pre-treatment provides the possibility for on-site rapid determination of equipment cleanliness in the pharmaceutical industry.

Dualplex lateral flow assay for simultaneous scopolamine and "cannibal drug" detection based on receptor-gated mesoporous nanoparticles

We report herein the design of a strip-based rapid test utilizing bio-inspired hybrid nanomaterials for the in situ and at site detection of the drug scopolamine (SCP) using a smartphone for readout, allowing SCP identification in diluted saliva down to 40 nM in less than 15 min. For this purpose, we prepared a nanosensor based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with a fluorescent reporter (rhodamine B) and functionalized with bethanechol, a potent agonist of recombinant human muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M₂ (M₂-AChR). M₂-AChR interaction with the anchored bethanechol derivative leads to capping of the pores. The sensing mechanism relies on binding of SCP to M₂-AChR resulting in pore opening and delivery of the entrapped rhodamine B reporter. Moreover, the material was incorporated into strips for lateral-flow assays coupled to smartphone readout, giving fast response time, good selectivity, and exceptional sensitivity. In an attempt to a mobile analytical test system for law enforcement services, we have also developed a dualplex lateral flow assay for SCP and 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) also known as the so-called "cannibal drug".

Analysis of conventional and nonconventional forensic specimens in drug-facilitated sexual assault by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

The incidence of drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) has dramatically increased in the last decades. Forensic analytical scientists continuously seek new methods and specimens to prove the incidence of intoxication for the judiciary system. Factors influencing sample selection include the ease of obtaining the samples and the window of detection of the drugs, among others. Both conventional (blood, urine) and non-conventional specimens (hair, nails, fluids) have been proposed as suitable in DFSA cases. Reported sample treatments include a variety of liquid-liquid and solid-phase extraction as well as dilute-and-shoot procedures and microextraction techniques. Regarding analysis, liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has emerged as the preferred confirmatory technique, due to its sensitivity, selectivity, and wide-scope applicability. In this review, we critically discuss the most common specimens and sample treatments/analysis procedures (related to LC-MS/MS) that have been reported during the last ten years. As a final goal, we intend to provide a critical overview and suggest analytical recommendations for the establishment of suitable analytical strategies in DFSA cases.

Wearable Electronic Finger for Date Rape Drugs Screening: From "Do-It-Yourself" Fabrication to Self-Testing

In-house digital fabrication of low-cost sensors that can on-site and rapidly detect adulteration of alcoholic beverages with sedation drugs (known as date rape drugs, (DRDs)) and analgesics is of great importance for everyday consumers and supervisory authorities. DRDs and analgesics are administrated in spirits for "drug-facilitated sexual assault" crimes and for the reduction of the following day hangover caused by low-quality spirits, respectively. This work describes, a novel "do-it-yourself" wearable 3D printed electrochemical finger (e-finger), which enables direct, rapid, and multianalyte self-testing of the main DRDs (flunitrazepam, scopolamine, ketamine) and paracetamol via direct immersing into a spirit shot. The oxygen interference on flunitrazepam detection was alleviated by dissolving an effervescent tablet of vitamin C in the spirit shot, as ascorbic acid serves as a scavenger for dissolved oxygen. The e-finger can be printed in-house at any size by anyone with access to a low-cost domestic 3D printer using a simple, fast, and low-cost printing procedure. The e-finger is addressed by a smartphone-based miniature potentiostat and allows on-the-spot self-checking of the quality and safety of alcoholic spirits, via a single calibration-free voltammetric measurement, readily performed even by untrained end users. The e-finger is a new powerful screening tool in the hands of supervisory authorities to conduct on-site forensic investigations. More importantly, it paves the way toward in-house e-production of "ready-to-use" reliable self-testing devices.

Capillary and microchip electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection for analysis of foodstuffs and beverages

The paper provides a comprehensive survey of the use of capillary and microchip electrophoresis in combination with contactless conductivity detection (C⁴D) for the analysis of drinking water, beverages and foodstuffs. The introduction sets forth the fundamentals of conductivity detection anddescribes an axialC⁴Dversion. There is also a detailed discussion of the determination of inorganic ions, organic acids, fatty acids, amino acids, amines, carbohydrates, foreign substances and poisons from the standpoint of separation conditions, sample treatment and detection limits. Special attention is paid to the analysis of foodstuffs at microchips with emphasis on the employed material and connection of the microchip with the C⁴D. The review attempts to draw attention to modern trends, such as dual-opposite injection, field-enhanced sample injection, electromembrane extraction and on-line combination of microdialysis with CE. CE/C⁴D is characterised by high universality, high speed of analysis, simple sample preparation, small consumption of sample and other chemicals.

Development of CE-C4D Method for Determination Tropane Alkaloids

A fast method for the determination of tropane alkaloids, using a portable CE instrument with a capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detector (CE-C⁴D) was developed and validated for determination of atropine and scopolamine in seeds from Solanaceae family plants. Separation was obtained within 5 min, using an optimized background electrolyte consisting of 0.5 M acetic acid with 0.25% (w/v) β-CD. The limit of detection and quantification was 0.5 µg/mL and 1.5 µg/mL, respectively, for both atropine and scopolamine. The developed method was validated with the following parameters—precision (CV): 1.07–2.08%, accuracy of the assay (recovery, RE): 101.0–102.7% and matrix effect (ME): 92.99–94.23%. Moreover, the optimized CE-C⁴D method was applied to the analysis of plant extracts and pharmaceuticals, proving its applicability and accuracy.

Scopolamine analysis in beverages: Bicolorimetric device vs portable nano liquid chromatography

Scopolamine (SCP) is often involved in sexual assaults and robberies, particularly in recreational environments. Therefore, analytical tools are required for the analysis of this compound amenable for the field. In this work, a sensor for SCP is described based on the entrapment of KMnO₄ into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The possibility of using KMnO₄ in combination with the reagent 1,2-naphtoquinone-4-sulfonate (NQS) giving a double sensor acting as a bicolorimetric device is also demonstrated. In contact with the sample, the PDMS composite delivers MnO₄^-, which reacts rapidly with SCP under basic conditions causing a change of the color of the solution that can be related to the concentration of drug using both, absorbances and color coordinates, while the NQS part of the sensor remains unchanged. After an exposure time to the sensors of 10 min, satisfactory linearity was obtained for concentrations of SCP up to 865 μg/mL, being the limit of detection (LOD) 108 μg/mL. A method using a portable nano liquid chromatograph with detection at 255 nm has been also developed; in this case the LOD was 100 μg/mL and the working linear interval was 250-2000 μg/mL. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (RDS), was ≤8% for both methods. Different beverages (cola, cola-whisky, tonic water-vodka, red wine and green tea) were assayed. The potential of the two proposed approaches for on-site tests is discussed.

Pharmacologic Similarities and Differences Among Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens constitute a unique class of substances that cause changes in the user's thoughts, perceptions, and mood through various mechanisms of action. Although the serotonergic hallucinogens such as lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin, and N,N-dimethyltryptamine have been termed the classical hallucinogens, many hallucinogens elicit their actions through other mechanisms such as N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonism, opioid receptor agonism, or inhibition of the reuptake of monoamines including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. The aim of this article is to compare the pharmacologic similarities and differences among substances within the hallucinogen class and their impact on physical and psychiatric effects. Potential toxicities, including life-threatening and long-term effects, will be reviewed.

Increasing awareness of the severity of female victimization by opportunistic drug-facilitated sexual assault: A new viewpoint

The victimization of women by opportunistic drug-facilitated sexual assault in leisure contexts was studied in this work by applying a novel approximation. A multifocal analytical strategy based on an intersectional gender-sensitive approach was used to analyse the evidence coming from both forensic case studies and contextual studies about sexual interrelation and drug use. The process of victimization comprises social changes affecting consumption patterns and sexual interaction, intersecting in the hegemonic recreational nightlife model. However, victims experience a range of situations that make it difficult for them to self-acknowledge themselves as such. Widespread myths about the victimization process add to the social questioning faced by victims, stemming from gender-based double standards which condition the expected female behaviors regarding the use of drugs and sexual interaction. The victims usually experience amnesia, lack of injuries and emotional harm, which make difficult the self-acknowledgement as a victim of sexual assault and the reporting of the episode suffered. Consequently, it is an urgent public health need to implement a new viewpoint about the victimization of women by opportunistic drug-facilitated sexual assault in leisure contexts, able to increase awareness of the severity of this form of sexual violence. Society must recognize the existence of this problem within itself to help victims to acknowledge themselves as such, lodge a complaint and seek adequate help. The lack of this social support feeds the perpetuation of the victimization process, which exacerbates the risk of locking victims into spirals of cyclical re-victimization and favors both the underreporting as well as inadequate coping strategies. In addition to focusing on the need to increase awareness of the severity of female victimization by opportunistic drug-facilitated sexual assault in leisure contexts, other recommendations include the use of the term "take advantage", the development of specific criminal approaches, and the in-depth knowledge of the phenomenon via victimization surveys. These steps are necessary for developing well-targeted and evidence-based preventive measures consistent-with-reality.

Effect of ontogeny on the content of the hallucinogenic alkaloids atropine and scopolamine in the different organs of some Solanaceae plants

The content of atropine and scopolamine is known to vary with ontogeny and plant organs selected which makes it necessary to define the optimal stage for harvesting of each plant organ. The present study aims at investigating the effect of ontogeny on the accumulation of atropine and scopolamine in the leaves, stems, roots, flowers and fruits of the Solanaceae plants Burgmansia suaveolens Bercht. & J.Presl, Datura stramonium L., D. arborea L., D. inoxia Mill. and Hyoscyamus albus L. Results showed that the highest content of atropine and scopolamine was observed during the flowering stage of most organs. H. albus L. leaves collected during flowering stage exhibited the highest content of atropine (746.66 ug/g) followed by the pre-flowering leaves of D. stramonium L. and the flowering stage stems of H. albus L. while D. inoxia Mill. pre-flowering leaves and flowering stems had significantly higher content of scopolamine among all the tested extracts with a concentration of 555.04 ug/g and 244.26 ug/g, respectively.

The Anesthesiologist's Armamentarium: From Recreation to Medication and Back

For millennia, mankind has sought a means of altering consciousness, often aided by naturally occurring elements. Psychotropic substances have been an integral part of spiritual, medicinal, and recreational aspects of life. The origin of anesthesiology stems directly from the use of recreational drugs; early inhaled anesthetics were first used as a means of entertainment. Hence, it is no surprise that many medications in the anesthesiologist's armamentarium are diverted for recreational use. In the 172 years following the first successful public demonstration of ether anesthesia, many drugs with abuse potential have been introduced to the practice of anesthesia. Although anesthesiologists are aware of the abuse potential of these drugs, how these drugs are obtained and used for recreational purposes is worthy of discussion. There are articles describing the historical and recreational use of specific drug classes. However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive review focusing on the breadth of drugs used by anesthesiologists.

Electrochemiluminescent sensors as a screening strategy for psychoactive substances within biological matrices

Electrochemiluminescent sensors for point-of-care devices; a screening strategy for the direct detection of hallucinogens within a variety of biological matrices.

The genus Datura L. (Solanaceae) in Mexico and Spain - Ethnobotanical perspective at the interface of medical and illicit uses

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The different species of the genus Datura have been used traditionally by some pre-Columbian civilizations, as well as in medieval rituals linked to magic and witchcraft in both Mexico and Europe. It is also noteworthy the use of different alkaloids obtained from the plants for medicinal purposes in the treatment of various groups of diseases, especially of the respiratory and muscularskeletal systems.

AIM OF THE STUDY

A review of the ethnobotanical uses of the genus Datura in Mexico and Spain has been conducted. We focus on the medicinal and ritualistic uses included in modern ethnobotanical studies, emphasizing the historical knowledge from post-colonial American Codices and medieval European texts. Datura's current social emergency as a drug of recreation and leisure, as well as its link to crimes of sexual abuse is also considered. The work is completed with some notes about the distribution and ecology of the different species and a phytochemical and pharmacological review of Datura alkaloids, necessary to understand their arrival in Europe and the ethnobotanical uses made since then MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature review and compilation of information on traditional medicinal uses of the genus has been carried out from the main electronic databases. Traditional volumes (codices) have also been consulted in libraries of different institutions. Consultations have been made with the National Toxicological Services of Spain and Mexico for toxicological data.

RESULTS

A total of 118 traditional uses were collected in both territories, 111 medicinal ones to be applied in 76 conditions or symptoms included in 13 pathological groups. Although there are particular medicinal uses in the two countries, we found up to 15 similar uses, of which 80% were previously mentioned in post-Colonial American codices. Applications in the treatment of asthma and rheumatism are also highlighted. Apart from medicinal uses, it is worth noting their cultural and social uses, in the case of Mexico relating to diseases such as being scared, astonishment or falling in love, and in the case of Spain, as a recreational drug and lately, for criminal purposes.

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlights the variety of uses traditionally given to the different species in both territories. The fact that most of the coincident or similar uses in both countries also appear in the classical codices can be found an example of the flow, not only of the plants from America to Europe, but also of their associated information. It is also relevant that particular uses have derived in both countries, reflecting the difference in the cultural factors and traditions linked to rituals and cultural practices. Finally, the significant growth of Datura consumption in recent years as a drug of leisure and recreation, as well as in crimes of sexual submission, should be considered as research of maximum relevance in the field of forensic botany and toxicology.

High Resolution UHPLC-MS Metabolomics and Sedative-Anxiolytic Effects of Latua pubiflora: A Mystic Plant used by Mapuche Amerindians

Latua pubiflora (Griseb) Phil. Is a native shrub of the Solanaceae family that grows freely in southern Chile and is employed among Mapuche aboriginals to induce sedative effects and hallucinations in religious or medicine rituals since prehispanic times. In this work, the pentobarbital-induced sleeping test and the elevated plus maze test were employed to test the behavioral effects of extracts of this plant in mice. The psychopharmacological evaluation of L. pubiflora extracts in mice determined that both alkaloid-enriched as well as the non-alkaloid extracts produced an increase of sleeping time and alteration of motor activity in mice at 150 mg/Kg. The alkaloid extract exhibited anxiolytic effects in the elevated plus maze test, which was counteracted by flumazenil. In addition, the alkaloid extract from L. pubiflora decreased [³H]-flunitrazepam binding on rat cortical membranes. In this study we have identified 18 tropane alkaloids (peaks 1-4, 8-13, 15-18, 21, 23, 24, and 28), 8 phenolic acids and related compounds (peaks 5-7, 14, 19, 20, 22, and 29) and 7 flavonoids (peaks 25-27 and 30-33) in extracts of L. pubiflora by UHPLC-PDA-MS which are responsible for the biological activity. This study assessed for the first time the sedative-anxiolytic effects of L. pubiflora in rats besides the high resolution metabolomics analysis including the finding of pharmacologically important tropane alkaloids and glycosylated flavonoids.

Simultaneous Identification of Four "Legal High" Plant Species in a Multiplex PCR High-Resolution Melt Assay. J Forensic Sci 2016;62:593-601. [PMID: 27957736 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13321]

The international prevalence of "legal high" drugs necessitates the development of a method for their detection and identification. Herein, we describe the development and validation of a tetraplex multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay used to simultaneously identify morning glory, jimson weed, Hawaiian woodrose, and marijuana detected by high-resolution melt using LCGreen Plus^® . The PCR assay was evaluated based on the following: (i) specificity and selectivity-primers were tested on DNA extracted from 30 species and simulated forensic samples, (ii) sensitivity-serial dilutions of the target DNA were prepared, and (iii) reproducibility and reliability-sample replicates were tested and remelted on different days. The assay is ideal for cases in which inexpensive assays are needed to quickly detect and identify trace biological material present on drug paraphernalia that is too compromised for botanical microscopic identification and for which analysts are unfamiliar with the morphology of the emerging "legal high" species.

Forensic pharmacology: An important and evolving subspecialty needs recognition in India

With training in pharmacology, a pharmacologist has an expert knowledge as well as working experience in the subjects of therapeutics, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology along with exposure to subjects such as forensic medicine during the medical education. All these knowledge domains can be applied and act as an interface to the forensic situations. The skills and expertise of a forensic pharmacologist can be useful in a large and diverse number of legal cases. With an ever increasing incidence of criminal and civil cases in India, the development and inclusion of forensic pharmacologist in the judicial system of India are the need of the hour. The research in pharmacology has witnessed great technological advancement that allows it to expand its scope beyond the domain of therapeutics, thus enabling Indian pharmacologists to explore the niche area of Forensic Pharmacology. Differing pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs in living and dead, drug interactions, abuse of drugs, personal injury or death due to drug exposure leading to medico-legal issues, environmental exposure to chemicals, and doping and forensic pharmacovigilance are the diverse aspects of Forensic Pharmacology.

Triple-channel portable capillary electrophoresis instrument with individual background electrolytes for the concurrent separations of anionic and cationic species

The portable capillary electrophoresis instrument is automated and features three independent channels with different background electrolytes to allow the concurrent optimized determination of three different categories of charged analytes. The fluidic system is based on a miniature manifold which is based on mechanically milled channels for injection of samples and buffers. The planar manifold pattern was designed to minimize the number of electronic valves required for each channel. The system utilizes pneumatic pressurization to transport solutions at the grounded as well as the high voltage side of the separation capillaries. The instrument has a compact design, with all components arranged in a briefcase with dimensions of 45 (w) × 35 (d) × 15 cm (h) and a weight of about 15 kg. It can operate continuously for 8 h in the battery-powered mode if only one electrophoresis channel is in use, or for about 2.5 h in the case of simultaneous employment of all three channels. The different operations, i.e. capillary flushing, rinsing of the interfaces at both capillary ends, sample injection and electrophoretic separation, are activated automatically with a control program featuring a graphical user interface. For demonstration, the system was employed successfully for the concurrent separation of different inorganic cations and anions, organic preservatives, additives and artificial sweeteners in various beverage and food matrices.

In-house-made capillary electrophoresis instruments coupled with contactless conductivity detection as a simple and inexpensive solution for water analysis: a case study in Vietnam

A simple and inexpensive method for the determination of various ionic species in different water matrices is discussed in this study. The approach is based on the employment of in-house-made capillary electrophoresis (CE) instruments with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C(4)D), which can be realized even when only a modest financial budget and limited expertise are available. Advantageous features and considerations of these instruments are detailed following their pilot deployment in Vietnam. Different categories of ionic species, namely major inorganic cations (K(+), Na(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), and NH4(+)) and major inorganic anions (Cl(-), NO3(-), NO2(-), SO4(2-), and phosphate), in different water matrices in Vietnam were determined using these in-house fabricated instruments. Inorganic trivalent arsenic (As(iii)), which is the most abundant form of arsenic in reducing groundwater, was determined by CE-C(4)D. The effect of some interfering ions in groundwater on the analytical performance was investigated and is highlighted. The results from in-house-made CE-C(4)D-instruments were cross-checked with those obtained using the standard methods (AAS, AES, UV and IC), with correlation coefficients r(2) ≥ 0.9 and deviations from the referenced results less than 15%.

Screening determination of four amphetamine-type drugs in street-grade illegal tablets and urine samples by portable capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection

A simple and inexpensive method for the identification of four substituted amphetamines, namely, 3,4-methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA), methamphetamine (MA), 3,4-methylenedioxy amphetamine (MDA) and 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine (MDEA) was developed using an in-house constructed semi-automated portable capillary electrophoresis instrument (CE) with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C(4)D). Arginine 10mM adjusted to pH4.5 with acetic acid was found to be the optimal background electrolyte for the CE-C(4)D determination of these compounds. The best detection limits achieved with and without a sample preconcentration process were 10ppb and 500ppb, respectively. Substituted amphetamines were found in different seized illicit club drug tablets and urine samples collected from different suspected users. Good agreement between results from CE-C(4)D and those with the confirmation method (GC-MS) was achieved, with correlation coefficients for the two pairs of data of more than 0.99.

Concurrent determination of anions and cations in consumer fireworks with a portable dual-capillary electrophoresis system

A new automated portable dual-channel capillary electrophoresis instrument was built and applied to the concurrent determination of cations and anions. The system uses a single buffer and hydrodynamic injection of the sample is performed autonomously. A novel engraved flow-cell interface is used at the injection ends of the capillaries allowing the autonomous operation of the system. The engraved flow-cell replaces traditionally used split injectors in purpose made capillary electrophoresis systems and makes the system design easier. A new software package with graphical user interface was employed to control the system, making its operation simple and increasing its versatility. The electrophoretic method was optimized to allow the baseline separation of 12 cations and anions commonly found in fireworks. The system was proven to be useful for the analysis of consumer fireworks, saving time and expenses compared to separate analyses for anions and cations. This is the first time that cationic and anionic compositions of fireworks are investigated together. The analysis of samples revealed several inaccuracies between the declared compositions for the fireworks and the obtained results, which could be attributed to cross-contamination during their manufacture or to a transfer between other components of the pyrotechnic item. The presence of certain unexpected peaks, however, had no apparent reason and might represent an irregularity in the manufacture of some devices.