Validation of a straightforward high performance liquid chromatographic method for morphine quantitation

Area of Science:

• Forensic Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Morphine is a controlled substance, often abused in illicit heroin.
• Accurate quantification of morphine in heroin is crucial for forensic investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an easy-to-use, cost-effective method for morphine determination in illicit heroin.
• To validate the method's accuracy and precision for forensic applications.

Main Methods:

• High performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector (HPLC-PDA) was employed.
• A pentafluorophenyl (PFP) column was used with a 50:50 acetonitrile:ammonium formate mobile phase for separation.
• Method validation included precision, linearity, and recovery studies.

Main Results:

• The method demonstrated high precision (intra-day RSD ≤ 0.8%, inter-day RSD < 5%).
• Limit of detection was as low as 0.001 mg/mL.
• Linearity (R² > 0.999) and accuracy (89.54-101.91%) were confirmed for morphine quantitation.

Conclusions:

• The developed HPLC-PDA method is precise, accurate, and reliable for morphine determination.
• This technique simplifies mobile phase preparation and reduces costs by avoiding expensive chemicals.
• It provides a valuable tool for the forensic analysis of illicit heroin.