MDMA electrochemical determination in aqueous media containing illicit drugs and validation of a voltammetric methodology

Authors

  • Juliana Midori Toia Katayama Universidade de São Paulo – USP – Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto – Departamento de Química – 14040-901 – Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
  • Erica Naomi Oiye Universidade de São Paulo – USP – Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto – Departamento de Química – 14040-901 – Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
  • Maria Fernanda Muzetti Ribeiro Universidade de São Paulo – USP – Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto – Departamento de Química – 14040-901 – Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
  • Antônio José Ipólito SPTC – Núcleo de Perícias Criminalísticas de Ribeirão Preto – 14015-040 – Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
  • José Fernando de Andrade Universidade de São Paulo – USP – Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto – Departamento de Química – 14040-901 – Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
  • Marcelo Firmino de Oliveira Universidade de São Paulo – USP – Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto – Departamento de Química – 14040-901 – Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22456/2527-2616.101162

Abstract

MDMA is the abbreviation for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, which is commonly found in “ecstasy” pills. The psychoactive and euphoric effects that MDMA causes make this substance an illicit drug that is constantly seized by police forces. We describe a low-cost and fast voltammetric methodology that requires a carbon paste electrode (working electrode) in aqueous solution containing 0.1 mol L-1 LiClO4 as the supporting electrolyte. We conducted cyclic and square wave voltammetry and obtained limits of detection of 0.33 μg mL-1 and 0.36 μg mL-1, respectively, as others figures of merit for a complete validation. It includes the analysis main interfering substances, and results for seized samples were compared to those obtained by chromatography, which were close. An extended study of robustness were carried out by Youden’s test, that is inedited to electrochemical techniques when applied to forensic analysis. This test contributes to complete methodology validation and study of electrode cost and efficiency during electrochemical measurements involving a carbon paste electrode. In the end, this work presents a full validated methodology able to be applied in forensic laboratories.

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Published

2020-07-16

How to Cite

Katayama, J. M. T., Oiye, E. N., Ribeiro, M. F. M., Ipólito, A. J., de Andrade, J. F., & de Oliveira, M. F. (2020). MDMA electrochemical determination in aqueous media containing illicit drugs and validation of a voltammetric methodology. Drug Analytical Research, 4(1), 3–11. https://doi.org/10.22456/2527-2616.101162

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2020)

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

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