The separation and quantitation of the narcotic components of illicit heroin using reversed-phase high performance...

The separation of heroin from other narcotic components of illicit preparations is achieved by high performance liquid chromatography. Using an aminopropyl bonded silica packing and a mixture of 85% acetonitrile and 15% 0.005 M tetrabutylammonium phosphate as the mobile phase, caffeine, heroin, acetylcodeine, 6-acetylmorphine, codeine, and morphine are separated from each other and are accurately quantified. Papaverine, noscapine, thebaine, and strychnine are also separated from these principal components.