Polymer-coated filter paper as a novel vapor sampling method for fentanyl

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Fentanyl and its analogs pose a significant public health risk, necessitating effective field detection methods.
• Current methods for detecting fentanyl vapors, such as Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME), can be costly and complex.
• N-phenylpropanamide (NPPA) serves as a reliable vapor surrogate for fentanyl detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate ethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate (EGMEA)-coated filter paper as a practical and robust passive vapor sampler for NPPA.
• To assess the efficacy of EGMEA-coated filter paper for preconcentrating NPPA from various fentanyl samples.
• To establish EGMEA-coated filter paper as a viable field sampling tool for presumptive fentanyl identification.

Main Methods:

• Development and characterization of EGMEA-coated filter paper for passive vapor sampling.
• Laboratory-based adsorption experiments with known concentrations of NPPA and fentanyl.
• Field deployment of sampling kits in forensic laboratories for real-world sample analysis.
• Analysis of collected samples using Thermal Desorption - Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (TD-GC/MS).

Main Results:

• EGMEA-coated filter paper demonstrated effective adsorption of NPPA, yielding significant quantities after short exposure times.
• Detectable levels of NPPA were recovered from reference-grade fentanyl samples after one week of passive sampling.
• Field deployment confirmed NPPA detection in seized fentanyl samples across multiple forensic laboratories.
• Variable NPPA recoveries indicated potential differences in fentanyl formulation and composition.

Conclusions:

• EGMEA-coated filter paper provides a simple, low-cost, and robust alternative to conventional sampling methods like SPME.
• The developed sampler, when coupled with TD-GC/MS, enables effective field-based presumptive identification of fentanyl.
• This technology supports enhanced field measurements and forensic research applications for illicit drug analysis.