U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Rapid Screening of Synthetic Cathinones as Trace Residues and in Authentic Seizures Using a Portable Mass Spectrometer Equipped With Desorption Electrospray Ionization
NCJ Number
              256050
Journal

*Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry* Volume: 26 Dated: 2012 Pages: 2665-2672
Author(s)
          K. E. Vircks;
                        C. C. Mulligan
Date Published

2012
Length
              8 pages
Annotation
              This article reports on a project in which a ruggedized, portable ion trap mass spectrometer capable of desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) was used to rapidly characterize various synthetic cathinones.
Abstract
              Recently, the surge in synthetic cathinone abuse has become a matter of public concern. With the influx of confiscated synthetic cathinones dramatically on the rise, laboratory workloads are expected to increase at a similar rate. This prompts the need for rapid analytical methods capable of detecting and identifying such compounds. In the current project, target analytes were directly analyzed as trace residues on various substrates and as major components in authentic, powder-based forensic evidence. Physical transfer swabs can also be examined with this method, enabling efficient screening of large areas and geometrically complex samples. Method validity was tested on trace residues, mock forensic samples, and authentic evidentiary seizures, yielding low- to sub-ng detection limits from several substrates of interest to crime scene investigation. Analyte confirmation was accomplished through MS2 analysis, providing characteristic fragmentation similar to that reported in literature. High-throughput analysis was demonstrated with no significant instrumental carryover, even for powdered samples. The robustness of this DESI-MS method to multi-component samples was examined, marked by high chemical specificity. The study concluded that coupling DESI-MS with portable instrumentation enabled sensitive and selective examination of synthetic cathinones from various substrates, in complex mixtures, and directly from mock and authentic forensic evidence. This instrumental method has the potential to assess the evidentiary value of forensic samples at crime scenes, reducing backlogs and expediting criminal investigations. (publisher abstract modified)
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2011-DN-BX-K552


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Award
        Accessing the Probative Value of Physical Evidence at Crimes Scenes with Ambient Mass Spectrometry and Portable Instrumentation
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2012
    
          Downloads
        
                      HTML

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Forensic sciences
        Equipment and technology
        Novel psychoactive substances
        Field drug analysis
        Mass spectrometry



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Success Story: NIJ And The New York City OCME Validating Confirmatory Body Fluid Identification Assays For Real-World Impact
                  Technical Note – Analysis Of Marijuana And Marijuana Products
                  Effect of moisture on copolymer fibers based on 5-amino-2-(p-aminophenyl)-benzimidazole
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov