Oxidative Processes to Transform and Degrade Amphetamine-Type Stimulants: Alternatives to Incineration

Although incineration is currently the primary method for the disposal of seized illicit drugs, alternative methods for the disposal of illicit drugs may be necessary to provide safer and more accessible alternatives. Chemical oxidation processes have been identified as a promising alternative method to degrade illicit drugs. Using commercially available reagents and established industry processes, chemical degradation holds potential as an alternative drug disposal technique. This study investigated the oxidants ozone, sodium hypochlorite, trichloroisocyanuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, OXONE, sodium percarbonate, and peracetic acid for their potential to degrade illicit amphetamine-type stimulants using β-phenethylamine (PEA) as an exploratory analog. Oxidants and conditions that showed the highest degradation efficiency with PEA were applied to methamphetamine, amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA). Transformation products were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and degradation was quantified using a fit-for-purpose method via liquid-chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Of the oxidants explored, ozone performed the best, leading to high degradation efficiencies of methamphetamine (95%), amphetamine (86%), MDMA (100%), and MDA (100%) after 72 h of exposure. Sodium hypochlorite was also highly effective for the degradation of methamphetamine and amphetamine, while trichloroisocyanuric acid was particularly effective for MDMA and MDA. All the major transformation products of degradation were tentatively identified, with only one of 10 listed as a controlled, scheduled, or restricted substance. This research demonstrates how chemical degradation can provide a novel alternative to incineration for the destruction of amphetamine-type stimulants, providing a sustainable, long-term, and accessible method of illicit drug disposal.