Issue 13, 2013

Simultaneous detection of controlled substances in waste water

Abstract

This study presents a method of simultaneous detection of both traditional and newly emerged drugs of abuse in wastewater. The method is based on solid phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. This analytical method separates 25 drugs from different classes including amphetamines, cathinones, tropane alkaloids, piperazines plus ketamine, amitriptyline, diazepam and morphine. In addition, newer compounds (methcathinone, mephedrone, butylone), and isomers (1-(2-methoxyphenyl) piperazine, 1-(4-methoxyphenyl) piperazine; 1-(2-flurophenyl) piperazine, 1-(4-flurophenyl) piperazine; 1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl) piperazine, 1-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl) piperazine) have been separated, with greater sensitivity (×100 order of magnitude). This work reports the detection of butylone, mephedrone, 1-(4-methoxyphenyl) piperazine, 1-(2-flurophenyl) piperazine and 1-methyl-4-benzylpiperazine for the first time in waste water. This suggests that with changes in drug use patterns, constant monitoring of waste water entering treatment plants should be carried out and treatment processes need to be put in place for their removal.

Graphical abstract: Simultaneous detection of controlled substances in waste water

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
18 Apr 2013
Accepted
17 May 2013
First published
21 May 2013

Anal. Methods, 2013,5, 3248-3254

Simultaneous detection of controlled substances in waste water

E. M. Mwenesongole, L. Gautam, S. W. Hall, J. W. Waterhouse and M. D. Cole, Anal. Methods, 2013, 5, 3248 DOI: 10.1039/C3AY40655E

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