Simultaneous Determination and Stability Analysis of Ten New Psychoactive Substances including Synthetic Cathinones, Phenethylamines, and Ketamine Substitutes in Urine Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.
International journal of analytical chemistry January 1, 2023 Feng-Shuo Yang, Hei-Hwa Lee, Li-Ping Tseng et al. 4 citations
The stability of ten new psychoactive substances (NPSs) in urine and methanol/water was evaluated at three storage temperatures over 90 days. Four compounds—para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA), para-methoxymethamphetamine (PMMA), deschloroketamine (DCK), and 2-fluorodeschloroketamine (2-FDCK)—remained stable in urine at all temperatures. Synthetic cathinones (mephedrone, butylone, pentylone, ephylone, 4-MEAPP, and eutylone) degraded over time at room temperature in urine but were relatively stable in acidified methanol solvent. The greatest degradation occurred at +25°C, while storage at -20°C provided the best stability. Phenethylamines and ketamine substitutes were more stable than synthetic cathinones.