Raman spectroscopy in forensic analysis: identification of cocaine and other illegal drugs of abuse
Current forensic methods for detecting and identifying cocaine and other drugs of abuse are destructive, so evidence cannot be re‐analyzed. Raman spectroscopy, based on inelastic light scattering, allows for rapid, inexpensive and nondestructive analysis in forensic science. This review presents the...
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| Published in | Journal of Raman spectroscopy Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 28 - 38 |
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| Main Authors | , , , |
| Format | Journal Article |
| Language | English |
| Published |
Bognor Regis
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
01.01.2016
Wiley Subscription Services, Inc |
| Subjects | |
| Online Access | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Current forensic methods for detecting and identifying cocaine and other drugs of abuse are destructive, so evidence cannot be re‐analyzed. Raman spectroscopy, based on inelastic light scattering, allows for rapid, inexpensive and nondestructive analysis in forensic science. This review presents the state‐of‐the‐art use of Raman spectroscopy as a confirmatory method for the identification of cocaine and other drugs of abuse in seized samples, including hidden compounds in legal materials such as beverages and clothes, among others, used for trafficking. Quantitative Raman spectroscopy is used to determine the actual drug concentrations in street cocaine and crack rocks and to identify possible adulterants in these samples for forensic toxicology and criminalistics. Finally, recent developments in Raman spectrometers (portable instruments and new excitation wavelengths) and advancements in data analysis offer exciting opportunities for new applications of Raman spectroscopy in the identification and quantification of drugs of abuse, including investigations conducted immediately at the scene of a crime. Copyright © 2016 JohnWiley & Sons, Ltd.
Current forensic methods for detecting and identifying cocaine and other drugs of abuse are destructive, so evidence cannot be re‐analyzed. Raman spectroscopy, based on inelastic light scattering, allows for rapid, inexpensive and nondestructive analysis in forensic science. This review presents the state‐of‐the‐art use of Raman spectroscopy as a confirmatory method for the identification of cocaine and other drugs of abuse in seized samples, including hidden compounds in legal materials such as beverages and clothes, among others, used for trafficking. |
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| Bibliography: | Raman spectra of a crystal of pure cocaine HCl into the surface of the nail and a microphotography of the crystal into the nail surface. Adapted from Ali et al.,36 with permission from Springer-Verlag.Top: scanning electron micrograph of wool impregnated with cocaine HCl. Bottom: Raman spectra of wool impregnated with amphetamine (A and B), cocaine (C and D), MDMA (E and F) and wool (G). Adapted from Ali and Edwards,48 with permission from John Wiley & Sons.Raman (a) and SERS (b) spectra of morphine and Raman (c) and SERS (d) spectra of codeine. SERS were obtained using Ag colloid and 633 nm excitation. Adapted from Rana et al.,53 with permission from John Wiley & Sons.Raman spectra of ethanol, diethyl ether, Coleman fuel and MET HCl from the study of Triplett et al.,63 with permission from John Wiley & Sons.Raman spectra of a sample of rum and a mixture of 70% purity cocaine and rum taken through the brown glass bottle. From Eliasson et al.,85 with permission from the authors. São Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP - No. 2009/01788-5 National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice - No. 2014-DN-BX-K016 ArticleID:JRS4864 istex:83523DB2AA891370987647FCE4E96E90F459A56C ark:/67375/WNG-K4WPCT7N-V ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 14 content type line 23 |
| ISSN: | 0377-0486 1097-4555 |
| DOI: | 10.1002/jrs.4864 |