Thesis

A study investigating the suitability of GCMS and GC FID techniques for the purpose of creating a robust and reproducible heroin profiling database

Creator
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Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2011
Thesis identifier
  • T12943
Qualification Level
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Department, School or Faculty
Abstract
  • The continual growth in the manufacture, trafficking and abuse of illicit heroin are major areas of concern and heroin drug profiling is an important scientific tool for deriving intelligence to successfully counter ever-growing heroin abuse problems. The project aimed to build a database of heroin profiles amenable to rapid and accurate searching to aid the identification of heroin distribution and/or trafficking networks. The majority of clandestine laboratories extract morphine from the seed pods of opium poppy plants, acetylation of crude morphine affords heroin. The final heroin composition incorporating the acetylated opium alkaloids plus added adulterants/diluents provides a unique chemical fingerprint for heroin profiling. The project initially aimed to develop a robust and reproducible heroin profiling method to quantify the major components found in heroin samples using the gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) instrument provided. Validation of a non derivatised heroin GCMS method highlighted the impact of transesterification on method accuracy and reproducibility. Validation of a derivatised heroin GCMS revealed that the heroin components afforded quadratic calibration lines resulting in the inaccurate and non reproducible quantitation of low concentration heroin components. A series of experiments conducted varying the sample preparation method, GCMS inlet, column and detector parameters identified the MS detector as the source of the non reproducible quadratic behaviour. Preliminary derivatised heroin studies carried out using a GC instrument equipped with a flame ionisation detector (FID) afforded linear calibration lines with the accurate quantitation of heroin components. Ultimately GCMS was deemed not viable for heroin profiling and GC FID was established as a suitable technique for the purpose of creating a robust and reproducible heroin profiling database.
Resource Type
Note
  • This thesis was previously held under moratorium from 14th February 2012 until 14th February 2014.
DOI
Date Created
  • 2011
Former identifier
  • 865790

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