Vapor-phase infrared laser spectroscopy: from gas sensing to forensic urinalysis

Anal Chem. 2008 Jul 15;80(14):5334-41. doi: 10.1021/ac8001897. Epub 2008 Jun 18.

Abstract

Numerous gas-sensing devices are based on infrared laser spectroscopy. In this paper, the technique is further developed and, for the first time, applied to forensic urinalysis. For this purpose, a difference frequency generation laser was coupled to an in-house-built, high-temperature multipass cell (HTMC). The continuous tuning range of the laser was extended to 329 cm(-1) in the fingerprint C-H stretching region between 3 and 4 microm. The HTMC is a long-path absorption cell designed to withstand organic samples in the vapor phase (Bartlome, R.; Baer, M.; Sigrist, M. W. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 2007, 78, 013110). Quantitative measurements were taken on pure ephedrine and pseudoephedrine vapors. Despite featuring similarities, the vapor-phase infrared spectra of these diastereoisomers are clearly distinguishable with respect to a vibrational band centered at 2970.5 and 2980.1 cm(-1), respectively. Ephedrine-positive and pseudoephedrine-positive urine samples were prepared by means of liquid-liquid extraction and directly evaporated in the HTMC without any preliminary chromatographic separation. When 10 or 20 mL of ephedrine-positive human urine is prepared, the detection limit of ephedrine, prohibited in sports as of 10 microg/mL, is 50 or 25 microg/mL, respectively. The laser spectrometer has room for much improvement; its potential is discussed with respect to doping agents detection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ephedrine / analogs & derivatives
  • Ephedrine / chemistry
  • Ephedrine / urine
  • Gases / chemistry*
  • Gases / urine*
  • Health
  • Humans
  • Lasers*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Probability
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrophotometry, Infrared / instrumentation*
  • Spectrophotometry, Infrared / methods*
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Temperature
  • Urinalysis
  • Urine / chemistry*
  • Vibration

Substances

  • Gases
  • Ephedrine