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A low-voltage paper spray ionization QTOF-MS method for the qualitative analysis of NPS in street drug blotter samples

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Abstract

Purpose

Analysis of new psychoactive substances (NPS) requires high selective analytical methodologies, including high-resolution mass spectrometry. In addition, the development/application of a suitable sample preparation step can provide methods in which low amounts of solvents and samples are used, as well as minimal sample manipulation is required.

Methods

Herein, the use of ambient ionization techniques such as paper spray emerges as a powerful tool to enhance the performance of methodologies, particularly in forensic sciences. In this study, low-voltage paper spray ionization coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS) method was developed and employed for the qualitative analysis of NPS in street drug blotter samples.

Results

Analysis revealed the presence of LSD (m/z 324.2058); 25C-NBOH (m/z 322.1212); 25E-NBOH (m/z 316.1917); 25I-NBOMe (m/z 428.0699); DOB (m/z 274.0432); and 4′-fluoro-α-pyrrolidinohexanophenone (m/z 264.1768) in the samples analyzed.

Conclusions

This technique was successfully applied for the analysis of NPS and allowed for fast and accurate analytical method that can be highly exploited in forensic screening purposes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Farmacociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil

    Letícia Birk, Sarah Eller Franco de Oliveira, Josias de Oliveira Merib & Tiago Franco de Oliveira

  2. Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, 88040-900, Brazil

    Gabriela Mafra, Rafael Brognoli & Eduardo Carasek

  3. Instituto Geral de Perícias, IGP/RS, Porto Alegre, RS, 90230-010, Brazil

    Marcos Jose Souza Carpes & Daniel Scolmeister

Authors
  1. Letícia Birk
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  2. Sarah Eller Franco de Oliveira
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  3. Gabriela Mafra
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  4. Rafael Brognoli
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  5. Marcos Jose Souza Carpes
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  6. Daniel Scolmeister
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  7. Eduardo Carasek
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  8. Josias de Oliveira Merib
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  9. Tiago Franco de Oliveira
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarah Eller Franco de Oliveira.

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Birk, L., de Oliveira, S.E.F., Mafra, G. et al. A low-voltage paper spray ionization QTOF-MS method for the qualitative analysis of NPS in street drug blotter samples. Forensic Toxicol 38, 227–231 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-019-00496-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-019-00496-9

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