Record |
Author |
De Jong, M.; Florea, A.; de Vries, A.-M.; van Nuijs, A.L.N.; Covaci, A.; Van Durme, F.; Martins, J.C.; Samyn, N.; De Wael, K. |
Title |
Levamisole : a common adulterant in cocaine street samples hindering electrochemical detection of cocaine |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2018 |
Publication |
Analytical chemistry |
Abbreviated Journal |
Anal Chem |
Volume |
90 |
Issue |
8 |
Pages |
5290-5297 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation); Toxicological Centre |
Abstract |
The present work investigates the electrochemical determination of cocaine in the presence of levamisole, one of the most common adulterants found in cocaine street samples. Levamisole misleads cocaine color tests, giving a blue color (positive test) even in the absence of cocaine. Moreover, the electrochemical detection of cocaine is also affected by the presence of levamisole, with a suppression of the oxidation signal of cocaine. When levamisole is present in the sample in ratios higher than 1:1, the cocaine signal is no longer detected, thus leading to false negative results. Mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance were used to investigate if the signal suppression is due to the formation of a complex between cocaine and levamisole in bulk solution. Strategies to eliminate this suppressing effect are further suggested in this manuscript. In a first approach, the increase of the pH of the sample solution from pH 7 to pH 12 allowed the voltammetric determination of cocaine in the presence of levamisole in a concentration range from 10 to 5000 μM at nonmodified graphite disposable electrodes with a detection limit of 5 μM. In a second approach, the graphite electrode was cathodically pretreated, resulting in the presence of oxidation peaks of both cocaine and levamisole, with a detection limit for cocaine of 3 μM over the linear range of concentrations from 10 to 2500 μM. Both these strategies have been successfully applied for the simultaneous detection of cocaine and levamisole in three street samples on unmodified graphite disposable electrodes. |
Address |
|
Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
Language |
|
Wos |
000430512200049 |
Publication Date |
2018-02-23 |
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 |
8 |
Open Access |
|
Notes ![sorted by Notes field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
; 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 BR/314/PI/ APTADRU Project and IOF-SBO (UAntwerp). Alexander van Nuijs acknowledges the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO) for his postdoctoral fellowship. ; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 6.32 |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:149528 |
Serial |
5693 |
Permanent link to this record |