GC-MS: fundamental tool for the analysis of drugs of illicit use

Stashenko, Elena E.; Martínez, Jairo R.

Palavras-chave: Gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, controlled substances, drugs.

Resumo: The chromatographic determination of illicit drugs poses important challenges at various stages along the analytical procedure, due to the low volatility of the analytes, the diversity of potential contaminants, and to the low concentrations of certain substances of interest. Sample preparation, the use of derivatization agents, different operating modes of the mass spectrometer for the detection, and the diverse application fields of the GC-MS analysis of illicit drugs are discussed in this article together with the presentation of some examples of these applications.

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