A comprehensive chemical examination of methylamphetamine produced from pseudoephedrine extracted from cold medication

This research evaluates the ability of gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS), isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) to characterize methylamphetamine hydrochloride synthesised from precursors extracted from proprietary cold medication using three different extraction solvents. Two clandestine routes were utilized in the synthetic phase of the research, (i) Moscow route and (ii) Hypophoshorous route (Hypo). Repetitive batches of samples were prepared and analysed by each analytical technique to provide a robust sample set for data interpretation. Organic impurity analysis was undertaken using a developed and validated GCMS impurity profiling method. The GCMS method discriminated the samples by synthetic route based on the presence of specific target impurities. Carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen stable isotope ratios facilitated the differentiation of samples by route, and precursor source with nitrogen and hydrogen isotopes providing the best results. Inorganic impurities present in the samples were analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). This technique provided meaningful discrimination according to the route and precursor utilized in the synthetic phase. Pattern recognition techniques were applied to the generated data (raw and pre processed) from each of the analytical technique both individually and in combination. Pearson's correlation coefficient, hierarchical cluster analysis, principal component analysis and artificial neural networks (self organizing feature maps) were used to investigate the separation of samples to the individual routes and precursor extracted from the individual solvent systems. The mathematical tools demonstrated that methylamphetamine profiling linking precursors sourced from proprietary grade materials extracted from different solvent systems and synthetic route employed was achievable.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral-pg

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Strathclyde

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Jayaram, Saravana Kumar

DOI

10.48730/sfwr-yb24

Identifier

T13236

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:strathclyde:r494vk167