Forensics Journal - Stevenson University 2010 | Page 18

STEVENSON UNIVERSITY

in polarity. The ZB-5 column was the standard column used on the
Maryland State Police GC instrument and the ZB-1 column was the
experimental column. The method that is currently used on the GC
for the analysis of Ecstasy at the Maryland State Police-Forensic Science Division lab is called LOW; it was altered with the ZB-1 column
and named BLOW. The flow rate, ramp time, oven temperature, and
hold time were individually altered for optimum separation.

C.

Derivatization was performed using trimethylsilylation and the
method was followed according to the journal article titled, “Analysis
of Benzylpiperazine-like Compounds “(Inoue, Iwata, Kanamori,
Miyaguchi, & Tsujikawa, 2004). A small amount of sample was
added to a micro-centrifuge tube where derivatizing agent BSTFA w/
1% TMS, and Acetonitrile were added. The reaction tube was heated
at 30°C for 30 minutes and run via GC/MS.

Figure (C) represents the GC/MS chromatogram of the standard
mixture underivatized. Figure (D) represents the chromatogram of
the standard mixture derivatized.
E.

G.

RESULTS

D.

Presumptive color testing was then performed with BZP and Ketamine standards on samples of seized Ecstasy tablets. A small amount
of sample was added to the reagent and the instantaneous color
reaction was observed and recorded. The reagents used were Marquis,
Mandelins, Froehdes, Lafons, Dragendorff, Nitroprusside, Gold
Bromide, Cobalt Thiocyanate, and Mayer’s.

A.

F.

H.

B.

Figure (E) is a photo of the color reactions with BZP reference standard. Figure (F) is a photo of the color reaction with Ketamine reference standard. Figure (G) is a photo of the color reaction with sample
4 with the addition of Ketamine standard. Figure (H) is a photo color
test results when Dragendorff reagent was added to MDMA, Methamphetamine, BZP, and Ketamine.
CONCLUSION

Figure (A) represents a standard mixture run on ZB-5 column on
method BLOW. Figure (B) represents a standard mixture run on
BLOWCB with the ZB-1 column.

The 0.1N NaOH/chloroform extraction did reduce the abundance
of caffeine present in the sample; however, it did not eliminate the
cutting agent entirely. The 0.1N HCl/chloroform and acetone extractions did not produce the results desired. It was concluded that the

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