Determination of metals contamination in illicit ecstasy drug samples using ICP-OES and XRF

Abstract

The analysis of 248 illegal "ecstasy" tablets was performed by determining 11 elements (Zn, Al, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Ba, Fe, B, Cu, and Pt). The sample solutions were prepared with nitric acid, heated in a microwave oven, and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). How-ever, the measurement of Pt residuals from PtO2 (which is frequently used as the catalyst during the synthesis stage of the active substance) was performed by X-ray fluoresence (XRF) analysis. The determination of boron residuals revealed that NaBH4was used in the production process. Barium was found to be present below the 0.1 μg/g level, but zinc was at 1.4 to 22.2 μg/g, aluminum at 10.8 to 350.3 μg/g, calcium at 33.4 to 416.8 μg/g), magnesium at 89.0 to 2474.4 μg/g, potassium at 12.4 to 88.7 μg/g, sodium at 90.6 to 4543.2 μg/g, iron at 1.6 to 654.6 μg/g, and copper at 0.1 to 3.7 μg/g.