Gas-Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Morphine, Heroin, and Cocaine

Abstract

Morphine, heroin, and cocaine are quantitatively determined with the same gas-liquid chromatographic system. The compounds are separated on a 6 ft × 2 mm id glass column packed with a 1:1 mixture of 5% SE-30 on 80-100 mesh Chromosorb W and 3% OV-17 on 80-100 mesh Varaport 30. The column is temperatureprogrammed. Flame ionization detector responses are measured with a computer-based data system. Heroin and cocaine are chromatographed directly; morphine is derivatized first. The procedure was evaluated with previously analyzed commercial and forensic samples. Accuracy and precision were 5 and 3%, respectively.