Forensic Chemistry
November 23, 2021
Robin van Echelpoel, Ruben F. Kranenburg, Arian van Asten et al.
24 citations
A two-step electrochemical sensor distinguishes between the drugs MDMA and 2C-B. In the first step, direct electrochemical analysis detects MDMA, but testing over 70 substances showed that 2C-B was the only common drug producing a false positive for MDMA. The second step uses formaldehyde to chemically modify 2C-B, creating a distinct electrochemical signal that differentiates it from MDMA. Testing on 71 ecstasy tablets seized by the Amsterdam Police, the sensor correctly identified all 39 MDMA-containing tablets and 10 of 11 tablets containing 2C-B. It also worked on dark-colored tablets where spectroscopic and colorimetric tests failed.
Forensic Chemistry
April 8, 2022
Cátia Esteves, Elena M. M. de Redrojo, José Luis Manjón et al.
19 citations
A non-destructive method using FTIR-ATR spectroscopy combined with OPLS-DA chemometric analysis can distinguish hallucinogenic mushrooms from edible and toxic species, even though specific psilocybin or psilocin bands were not identified. The technique successfully separated hallucinogenic mushrooms from others, making it a promising initial screening tool for forensic identification of seized samples. The study analyzed 64 mushroom samples from various genera, including hallucinogenic, edible, and toxic species.
Forensic Chemistry
September 20, 2021
P. Kintz, J. Raul, A. Ameline
4 citations
A method using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed to detect psilocin, the active metabolite of psilocybin from magic mushrooms, in human hair. The technique involves incubating 10 mg of hair in acid methanol with a labeled internal standard, followed by chromatographic separation. The method was linear from 1 to 200 pg/mg, with a detection limit of 0.4 pg/mg and good precision. Analysis of hair from a regular magic mushroom user found psilocin levels of 2.5, 4.4, and 5.4 pg/mg in successive 1-cm segments. Cold conditions and protection from light are essential to prevent psilocin degradation during preparation.
Forensic Chemistry
March 25, 2025
Pragna Gaur, Liam Engel, Damian Robert Hall et al.
1 citation
Mescaline concentrations in ornamental San Pedro cacti vary widely, posing risks of unintended low or high doses if used illicitly. A new UHPLC-(ESI)MS/MS method rapidly and reliably quantifies mescaline in these cacti and screens others. Preliminary results suggest higher mescaline levels in the chlorenchyma than in the parenchyma of San Pedro. Screening revealed mescaline in two varieties of Echinopsis subdenudata for the first time, at concentrations from 36 μg/g to 2.45 mg/g, while six other cacti had none. This finding supports the chemotaxonomic argument that Trichocereus and Echinopsis genera may not be distinct and should be combined. The discovery of mescaline in a popular ornamental cactus highlights the need for routine forensic screening to keep pace with emerging psychedelic drug trends.
Forensic Chemistry
June 1, 2019
J. T. Davidson, Glen P. Jackson
Positional isomers of the synthetic phenethylamine derivatives 25C-NBOMe and 25I-NBOMe can be reliably distinguished using retention indices and fragment ion abundances measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Retention indices for the six isomers on three different 5% diphenyl columns ranged from 2614 to 2904, with 95% confidence intervals of 12–16. Chemometric methods—principal component analysis and canonical discriminant analysis—achieved 99.5% classification accuracy across three instrumental setups and a wide concentration range, and greater than 99.9% accuracy within a single instrument when low-abundance spectra were excluded. These findings support the use of retention indices and chemometric classification for identifying unknown NBOMe isomers, aiding forensic and regulatory efforts.