On-site detection of fentanyl and its derivatives by field portable nano-liquid chromatography-electron lonization-mass spectrometry (nLC-EI-MS)

• Published in: Forensic chemistry Vol. 16; p. 100180
• Main Authors: Abonamah, Jocelyn V., Eckenrode, Brian A., Moini, Mehdi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.12.2019
• Subjects: Confirmatory analysis; EI library searching; Full functionality field portable mass spectrometry; Opioids-fentanyl; Portable nano-liquid chromatography electron ionization MS; TRL level 2; Confirmatory analysis; Portable nano-liquid chromatography electron ionization MS; Full functionality field portable mass spectrometry; TRL level 2; Opioids-fentanyl; EI library searching
• ISSN: 2468-1709; 2468-1709
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2019.100180

[Display omitted] •A novel field portable nano-LC-EI-MS was developed.•An opioid mixture was successfully analyzed by the field-portable nLC-EI-MS.•LC-EI-MS chromatogram matched LC-ESI-MS, while the EI spectra matched GC-EI-MS.•The opioids were identified using the portable MS EI libraries.•Excellent retention time reproducibility was achieved in the lab and in the field. There is a need to develop a field-portable analytical technique for on-site confirmatory analysis of illicit drugs that are flooding illegal markets. GC-EI-MS and LC-ESI-MS/MS are two commonly used analytical techniques in forensic analyses of drugs and explosives. For years, portable GC–MS has been used for on-site identification of chemical compounds such as illicit drugs and explosives. The primary advantage of the GC–MS is its extensive library searching capability, which allows identification of unknown compounds. LC-ESI-MS has been useful in addressing the issue of thermal degradation; however, minimal fragmentation is observed under ESI-MS. By using a tandem mass spectrometer (MS/MS), compounds can be fragmented; however, no wide-ranging library for LC-MS/MS currently exists. Previously, LC electron ionization MS (LC-EI-MS) was developed to combine the advantages of the LC for sample introduction at ambient temperature with the EI-MS ionization, fragmentation, and library searching capability; however, currently no full functionality portable LC-EI-MS is available. Here for the first time we report development of a field-portable nLC-EI-MS by using an Easy nanoLC in conjunction with a full-functionality field-portable Viking 573 mass spectrometer. For proof of concept, the nLC-EI-MS was transported to the field and tested using a low power (1500 Watt) portable generator. A mixture containing heroin and synthetic opioids including fentanyl, carfentanil (oxalate salt), acetyl fentanyl, and butyryl fentanyl was successfully analyzed and identified via library match in less than 10 min. The results were compared with a laboratory nLC-ESI-MS as well as a laboratory GC–MS. Excellent reproducibility of retention times was achieved.