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Sensitive and selective cocaine electrochemical detection using disposable sensors
Laura Asturias-Arribas1, M Asunción Alonso-Lomillo2, Olga Domínguez-Renedo1
1Analytical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Burgos, Pza. Misael Bañuelos s/n, 09001 Burgos, Spain.
Analytica Chimica Acta
|June 15, 2014
Summary
This study presents two methods for accurately determining cocaine levels in street samples, even with common interfering substances like codeine, paracetamol, or caffeine. These electrochemical techniques improve cocaine analysis and purity assessment.
Area of Science:
- Electroanalytical Chemistry
- Forensic Chemistry
Background:
- Voltammetric determination of cocaine is crucial for forensic analysis.
- Interfering substances like codeine, paracetamol, and caffeine can cause inaccurate results due to overlapping oxidation peaks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop reliable voltammetric methods for cocaine determination in the presence of common street sample interferences.
- To assess the purity of cocaine street samples using electrochemical techniques.
Main Methods:
- Modification of disposable carbon sensors with carbon nanotubes for cocaine quantification using ordinary least squares regression.
- Utilizing partial least squares regression for resolving overlapped voltammetric signals from unmodified screen-printed carbon electrodes.
Main Results:
- Quantification of cocaine using modified sensors in the concentration range of 10-155 μmol L(-1) with 5.6% reproducibility.
- Successful resolution of overlapped signals from interfering substances using partial least squares regression.
- Both methods demonstrated effectiveness in evaluating the purity of real-world cocaine street samples.
Conclusions:
- Developed and validated two distinct electrochemical approaches for accurate cocaine analysis in complex matrices.
- These methods offer robust solutions for forensic laboratories dealing with street drug samples.
- The techniques enhance the reliability of cocaine purity assessment in forensic investigations.