Origin differentiation of heroin sample and its acetylating agent with 13C isotope ratio mass spectrometry

Eur. J. Mass Spectrom. 11, 277–286 (2005)
DOI: 10.1255/ejms.747

Origin differentiation of heroin sample and its acetylating agent with ¹³C isotope ratio mass spectrometry

Daming Zhang,^a,b Wei Sun,^c Zengping Yuan,^b Huangxian Ju,^a,*Xuejun Shi^b and Chonghu Wang^d
^aKey Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science (Education Ministry of China), Department of Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
^bForensic Medical Examination & Identification Center of Beijing Public Security Bureau, Beijing 100085, China
^cDepartment of Technology, Chinese People’s Public Security University, Beijing 100038, China
^dInstitute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing 100038, China

ABSTRACT:

A novel method for deducing the origins of heroin and the regent used for acetylization was established based on δ¹³C determinations of heroin and its hydrolysate, morphine, using gas chromatography ¹³C isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS). The alkaline and acid hydrolysis conditions of heroin were optimized. Both yield and purity of morphine produced could meet the requirement for a GC-C-IRMS analysis. Using (2- diethylaminoethyl-2,2- diphenylvalerate) as internal standard the determinations of heroin and morphine contents were performed with a GC method in a linear range of 0.2 to 2.0 mg ml^–1 that was required to gain the isotope ratio results. The hydrolysis and synthesis of heroin did not change the δ¹³C value of morphine. The precision for δ¹³C detection of both heroin and morphine was sufficient for origin differentiation of heroin samples. The information about the origins of acetylation regents could be deduced from the difference of δ¹³C values between heroin and morphine. The results for origin differentiation of 10 heroin samples grouped into different regions and their acetylating agents were satisfactory.

Keywords: stable isotopic ratio mass spectrometry, ¹³C isotope ratio mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, forensic science, heroin, morphine, acetylation, origin differentiation

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