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Coca paste: chemical analysis and smoking experiments.

M A elSohly1, R Brenneisen, A B Jones

  • 1Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi.

Journal of Forensic Sciences
|January 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Chemical analysis of coca paste revealed significant manganese content and gasoline residue components. The primary alkaloid was cocaine, with preliminary smoking suggesting it behaves like free cocaine.

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Chemistry
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • Coca paste is a precursor to cocaine hydrochloride.
  • Understanding its chemical composition is crucial for forensic analysis and drug control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To chemically characterize Colombian and Peruvian coca paste samples.
  • To identify alkaloids, contaminants, and metallic elements present.
  • To investigate the smoking behavior of coca paste.

Main Methods:

  • Gas chromatography/flame ionization detection (GC/FID) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were employed.
  • Analysis of neutral, acid, and basic fractions, including trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives.
  • Lead and manganese content determination via atomic analysis.

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Main Results:

  • Cocaine was the predominant alkaloid (>60%) in all samples.
  • Gasoline residue components were identified in the neutral fraction.
  • Significant manganese levels (>5%) were found in most Colombian samples; no lead was detected.
  • Preliminary smoking tests indicated coca paste behaves like free cocaine.

Conclusions:

  • Coca paste is a complex mixture containing cocaine, other alkaloids, and contaminants.
  • The presence of manganese and gasoline residues suggests specific manufacturing or handling processes.
  • The smoking characteristics of coca paste differ from cocaine salts.