toggle visibility
Search within Results:
Display Options:

Select All    Deselect All
 |   | 
Details
   print
  Records Links
Author de Jong, M.; Van Echelpoel, R.; Langley, A.R.; Eliaerts, J.; van den Berg, J.; De Wilde, M.; Somers, N.; Samyn, N.; De Wael, K. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Real-time electrochemical screening of cocaine in lab and field settings with automatic result generation Type A1 Journal article
  Year (down) 2022 Publication Drug testing and analysis Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 14 Issue 8 Pages 1471-1481  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Pharmacology. Therapy; Engineering sciences. Technology; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)  
  Abstract This work presents the results of a novel application for the fast on-site screening of cocaine and its main cutting agents in suspicious and confiscated samples. The methodology behind the novel application consists of portable electrochemical detection coupled with a peak-recognition algorithm for automated result output generation, validated both in laboratory and field settings. Currently used field tests, predominantly colorimetric tests, are lacking accuracy, often giving false positive or negative results. This presses the need for alternative approaches to field testing. By combining portable electrochemical approaches with peak-recognition algorithms, an accuracy of 98.4% concerning the detection of cocaine was achieved on a set of 374 powder samples. In addition, the approach was tested on multiple 'smuggled', colored cocaine powders and cocaine mixtures in solid and liquid states, typically in matrices such as charcoal, syrup and clothing. Despite these attempts to hide cocaine, our approach succeeded in detecting cocaine during on-site screening scenarios. This feature presents an advantage over colorimetric and optical detection techniques, which can fail with colored sample matrices. This enhanced accuracy on smuggled samples will lead to increased efficiency in confiscation procedures in the field, thus significantly reducing societal economic and safety concerns and highlighting the potential for electrochemical approaches in on-the-spot identification of drugs of abuse.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000790965700001 Publication Date 2022-04-23  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1942-7603; 1942-7611 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:187767 Serial 8921  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Thiruvottriyur Shanmugam, S.; Van Echelpoel, R.; Boeye, G.; Eliaerts, J.; Samanipour, M.; Ching, H.Y.V.; Florea, A.; Van Doorslaer, S.; Van Durme, F.; Samyn, N.; Parrilla, M.; De Wael, K. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Towards developing a screening strategy for ecstasy : revealing the electrochemical profile Type A1 Journal article
  Year (down) 2021 Publication Chemelectrochem Abbreviated Journal Chemelectrochem  
  Volume 8 Issue 24 Pages 4826-4834  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation); Organic synthesis (ORSY); Applied Electrochemistry & Catalysis (ELCAT); Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)  
  Abstract This article describes the development of an electrochemical screening strategy for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), the regular psychoactive compound in ecstasy (XTC) pills. We have investigated the specific electrochemical profile of MDMA and its electro-oxidation mechanisms at disposable graphite screen-printed electrodes. We have proved that the formation of a radical cation and subsequent reactions are indeed responsible for the electrode surface passivation, as evidenced by using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and electrochemistry. Thereafter, pure cutting agents and MDMA as well as simulated binary mixtures of compounds with MDMA were subjected to square wave voltammetry at pH 7 to understand the characteristic electrochemical profile. An additional measurement at pH 12 was able to resolve false positives and negatives occurring at pH 7. Finally, validation of the screening strategy was done by measuring a set of ecstasy street samples. Overall, our proposed electrochemical screening strategy has been demonstrated for the rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of MDMA, resolving most of the false positives and negatives given by the traditional Marquis color tests, thus exhibiting remarkable promises for the on-site screening of MDMA.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000735883700020 Publication Date 2021-12-22  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2196-0216 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 4.136 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.136  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:184371 Serial 8680  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Eliaerts, J.; Meert, N.; Dardenne, P.; Baeten, V.; Pierna, J.-A.F.; Van Durme, F.; De Wael, K.; Samyn, N. doi  openurl
  Title Comparison of spectroscopic techniques combined with chemometrics for cocaine powder analysis Type A1 Journal article
  Year (down) 2020 Publication Journal Of Analytical Toxicology Abbreviated Journal J Anal Toxicol  
  Volume 44 Issue 8 Pages 851-860  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Pharmacology. Therapy; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)  
  Abstract Spectroscopic techniques combined with chemometrics are a promising tool for analysis of seized drug powders. In this study, the performance of three spectroscopic techniques [Mid-InfraRed (MIR), Raman and Near-InfraRed (NIR)] was compared. In total, 364 seized powders were analyzed and consisted of 276 cocaine powders (with concentrations ranging from 4 to 99 w%) and 88 powders without cocaine. A classification model (using Support Vector Machines [SVM] discriminant analysis) and a quantification model (using SVM regression) were constructed with each spectral dataset in order to discriminate cocaine powders from other powders and quantify cocaine in powders classified as cocaine positive. The performances of the models were compared with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography with flame-ionization detection (GC-FID). Different evaluation criteria were used: number of false negatives (FNs), number of false positives (FPs), accuracy, root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) and determination coefficients (R-2). Ten colored powders were excluded from the classification data set due to fluorescence background observed in Raman spectra. For the classification, the best accuracy (99.7%) was obtained with MIR spectra. With Raman and NIR spectra, the accuracy was 99.5% and 98.9%, respectively. For the quantification, the best results were obtained with NIR spectra. The cocaine content was determined with a RMSECV of 3.79% and a R-2 of 0.97. The performance of MIR and Raman to predict cocaine concentrations was lower than NIR, with RMSECV of 6.76% and 6.79%, respectively and both with a R-2 of 0.90. The three spectroscopic techniques can be applied for both classification and quantification of cocaine, but some differences in performance were detected. The best classification was obtained with MIR spectra. For quantification, however, the RMSECV of MIR and Raman was twice as high in comparison with NIR. Spectroscopic techniques combined with chemometrics can reduce the workload for confirmation analysis (e.g., chromatography based) and therefore save time and resources.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000606735000011 Publication Date 2020-08-04  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0146-4760; 1945-2403 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 2.5 Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 2.5; 2020 IF: 2.409  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175117 Serial 7697  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Eliaerts, J.; Meert, N.; Dardenne, P.; Van Durme, F.; Baeten, V.; Samyn, N.; De Wael, K. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Evaluation of a calibration transfer between a bench top and portable Mid-InfraRed spectrometer for cocaine classification and quantification Type A1 Journal article
  Year (down) 2020 Publication Talanta Abbreviated Journal Talanta  
  Volume 209 Issue Pages 120481  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)  
  Abstract A portable Fourier Transform Mid-InfraRed (FT-MIR) spectrometer using Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) sampling is used for daily routine screening of seized powders. Earlier, ATR-FT-MIR combined with Support Vector Machines (SVM) algorithms resulted in a significant improvement of the screening method to a reliable and straightforward classification and quantification tool for both cocaine and levamisole. However, can this tool be transferred to new (hand-held) devices, without loss of the extensive data set? The objective of this study was to perform a calibration transfer between a newly purchased bench top (BT) spectrometer and a portable (P) spectrometer with existing calibration models. Both instruments are from the same brand and have identical characteristics and acquisition parameters (FT instrument, resolution of 4 cm(-1) and wavenumber range 4000 to 500 cm(-1)). The original SVM classification model (n = 515) and SVM quantification model (n = 378) were considered for the transfer trial. Three calibration transfer strategies were assessed: 1) adjustment of slope and bias; 2) correction of spectra from the new instrument BT to P using Piecewise Direct Standardization (PDS) and 3) building a new mixed instrument model with spectra of both instruments. For each approach, additional cocaine powders were measured (n = 682) and the results were compared with GC-MS and GC-FID. The development of a mixed instrument model was the most successful in terms of performance. The future strategy of a mixed model allows applying the models, developed in the laboratory, to portable instruments that are used on-site, and vice versa. The approach offers opportunities to exchange data within a network of forensic laboratories using other FT-MIR spectrometers.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000509632900016 Publication Date 2019-10-21  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0039-9140; 1873-3573 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 6.1 Times cited 2 Open Access  
  Notes ; ; Approved Most recent IF: 6.1; 2020 IF: 4.162  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:166475 Serial 6511  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Eliaerts, J. openurl 
  Title Qualitative and quantitative determination of cocaine using mid-infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics Type Doctoral thesis
  Year (down) 2020 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 184 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Law; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)  
  Abstract  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:169398 Serial 6589  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Florea, A.; Schram, J.; De Jong, M.; Eliaerts, J.; Van Durme, F.; Kaur, B.; Samyn, N.; De Wael, K. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Electrochemical strategies for adulterated heroin samples Type A1 Journal article
  Year (down) 2019 Publication Analytical chemistry Abbreviated Journal Anal Chem  
  Volume 91 Issue 12 Pages 7920-7928  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)  
  Abstract Electrochemical strategies to selectively detect heroin in street samples without the use of complicated electrode modifications were developed for the first time. For this purpose, heroin, mixing agents (adulterants, cutting agent, and impurities), and their binary mixtures were subjected to square wave voltammetry measurements at bare graphite electrodes at pH 7.0 and pH 12.0, in order to elucidate the unique electrochemical fingerprint of heroin and mixing agents as well as possible interferences or reciprocal influences. Adjusting the pH from pH 7.0 to pH 12.0 allowed a more accurate detection of heroin in the presence of most common mixing agents. Furthermore, the benefit of introducing a preconditioning step prior to running square wave voltammetry on the electrochemical fingerprint enrichment was explored. Mixtures of heroin with other drugs (cocaine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and morphine) were also tested to explore the possibility of their discrimination and simultaneous detection. The feasibility of the proposed electrochemical strategies was tested on realistic heroin street samples from forensic cases, showing promising results for fast, on-site detection tools of drugs of abuse.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000472682000056 Publication Date 2019-05-30  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0003-2700; 5206-882x ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 6.32 Times cited 2 Open Access  
  Notes ; This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No. 753223 Narcoreader. The authors also acknowledge IOF (UAntwerp) and Belspo for financial support. ; Approved Most recent IF: 6.32  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:160061 Serial 5596  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author De Jong, M.; Florea, A.; Eliaerts, J.; Van Durme, F.; Samyn, N.; De Wael, K. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Tackling poor specificity of cocaine color tests by electrochemical strategies Type A1 Journal article
  Year (down) 2018 Publication Analytical chemistry Abbreviated Journal Anal Chem  
  Volume 90 Issue 11 Pages 6811-6819  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)  
  Abstract This paper presents electrochemical strategies for the fast screening of cocaine and most common cutting agents found in seized drug samples. First, a study on the performance of Scott color tests on cocaine and a wide range of cutting agents is described. The cutting agents causing false positive or false negative results when in mixture with cocaine are identified. To overcome the lack of specificity of color tests, we further propose a fast screening strategy by means of square wave voltammetry on disposable graphite screen printed electrodes, which reveals the unique fingerprint of cocaine and cutting agents. By employing a forward and backward scan and by a dual pH strategy, we enrich the electrochemical fingerprint and enable the simultaneous detection of cocaine and cutting agents. The effectiveness of the developed strategies was tested for the detection of cocaine in seized cocaine samples and compared with the color tests. Moreover, we prove the usefulness of square wave voltammetry for predicting possible interfering agents in color tests, based on the reduction peak of cobalt thiocyanate. The developed electrochemical strategies allow for a quick screening of seized cocaine samples resulting in a selective identification of drugs and cutting agents.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000434893200066 Publication Date 2018-05-09  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0003-2700; 5206-882x ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 6.32 Times cited 7 Open Access  
  Notes ; This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No. 753223 Narcoreader. This work was also supported by Grants BR/314 /PI/APTADRU and IOF-SBO. ; Approved Most recent IF: 6.32  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:151316 Serial 5867  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Eliaerts, J.; Meert, N.; Van Durme, F.; Samyn, N.; De Wael, K.; Dardenne, P. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Practical tool for sampling and fast analysis of large cocaine seizures Type A1 Journal article
  Year (down) 2018 Publication Drug testing and analysis Abbreviated Journal Drug Test Anal  
  Volume 10 Issue 6 Pages 1039-1042  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Pharmacology. Therapy; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)  
  Abstract Large quantities of illicit drugs are frequently seized by law enforcement. In such cases, a representative number of samples needs to be quickly examined prior to destruction. No procedure has yet been set up which rapidly provides information regarding the homogeneity of the samples, the presence of controlled substances and the degree of purity. This study establishes a protocol for fast analysis of cocaine and its most common cutting agent, levamisole, in large seizures. The protocol is based on a hypergeometric sampling approach combined with FTIR spectrometry and Support Vector Machines (SVM) algorithms as analysis methods. To demonstrate the practical use of this approach, five large cocaine seizures (consisting between 45 and 85 units) were analysed simultaneously with GC-MS, GC-FID and a portable FTIR spectrometer using Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) sampling combined with SVM models. According to the hypergeometric sampling plan of the Drugs Working Group ENFSI guidelines, the required number of subsamples ranged between 19 and 23. Considering the identification analyses, the SVM models detected cocaine and levamisole in all subsamples of cases 1 to 5 (100% correct classification), which was confirmed by GC-MS analysis. Considering the quantification analyses, the SVM models were able to estimate the cocaine and levamisole content in each subsample, compared to GC-FID data. The developed strategy is easy, cost effective and provides immediate information about both the presence and concentration of cocaine and levamisole. By using this new strategy, the number of confirmation analyses with laborious and expensive chromatographic techniques could be significantly reduced.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000435270300016 Publication Date 2018-02-03  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1942-7603; 1942-7611 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 3.469 Times cited 1 Open Access  
  Notes ; Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO), Grant/Award Number: WE/49/N14-O14 ; Approved Most recent IF: 3.469  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:148760 Serial 5781  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Eliaerts, J.; Dardenne, P.; Meert, N.; Van Durme, F.; Samyn, N.; Janssens, K.; De Wael, K. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Rapid classification and quantification of cocaine in seized powders with ATR-FTIR and chemometrics Type A1 Journal article
  Year (down) 2017 Publication Drug testing and analysis Abbreviated Journal Drug Test Anal  
  Volume 9 Issue 10 Pages 1480-1489  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Pharmacology. Therapy; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)  
  Abstract Traditionally, fast screening for the presence of cocaine in unknown powders is performed by means of colour tests. The major drawbacks of these tests are subjective colour evaluation depending on the operator (50 shades of blue) and a lack of selectivity. An alternative fast screening technique is Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectrometry. This technique provides spectra that are difficult to interpret without specialized expertise and showing a lack of sensitivity for the detection of cocaine in mixtures. To overcome these limitations, a portable FTIR spectrometer using Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) sampling was combined with a multivariate technique, called Support Vector Machines (SVM). Representative street drug powders (n = 482), seized during the period January 2013 to July 2015, and reference powders (n = 33) were used to build and validate a classification model (n = 515) and a quantification model (n = 378). Both models were compared with the conventional chromatographic techniques. The SVM classification model showed a high sensitivity, specificity and efficiency (99%). The SVM quantification model determined cocaine content with a root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP) of 6% calculated over a wide working range from 4 to 99 w%. In conclusion, the developed models resulted in a clear output (cocaine detected or cocaine not detected) and a reliable estimation of the cocaine content in a wide variety of mixtures. The ATR-FTIR technique combined with SVM is a straightforward, user-friendly and fast approach for routine classification and quantification of cocaine in seized powders.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000413685200001 Publication Date 2016-12-17  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1942-7603; 1942-7611 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 3.469 Times cited 9 Open Access  
  Notes ; ; Approved Most recent IF: 3.469  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:139483 Serial 5799  
Permanent link to this record
Select All    Deselect All
 |   | 
Details
   print

Save Citations:
Export Records: