The extraction and detection of drugs of abuse from absorbent gel material found in disposable diapers
Description
TitleThe extraction and detection of drugs of abuse from absorbent gel material found in disposable diapers
Date Created2021
Other Date2021-05 (degree)
Extent1 online resource (vi, 116 pages)
DescriptionOver the past 25 years, there has been research performed on recovering analytes from disposable diapers. Predominantly, there are two methods which are using methanol as a solvent and using calcium chloride; while both methods have shown to recover analytes from disposable diapers there has not been a study comparing the two methods determining which is optimal for scientists to utilize. Analytical methods were evaluated for detecting MDMA, diazepam, oxycodone, fentanyl and internal standard, mirtazapine, in urine and extracts from the absorbent gel material in disposable diapers by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). MDMA, diazepam, oxycodone, and fentanyl were extracted from urine-soaked diapers using two previously published methods. Half of the samples were immersed in methanol, which was evaporated before reconstituting in drug-free urine and extracted on a solid phase extraction column. Half of the samples had CaCl2 powder added directly to them, which released urine and analytes from the polymer and the liquid was extracted on a solid phase extraction column. Both methods are suitable for extracting the analytes from the disposable diaper although diazepam and fentanyl had better recoveries with the methanol method. However, oxycodone oscillated between both methods, recovering better with the methanol method during the shorter time periods and recovering better with the CaCl2 method during the longer time periods. Extracting immediately after addition to the diaper, diazepam could be positively identified at lowest concentration of 25ng/mL, fentanyl could be positively identified at lowest concentration of 50ng/mL, and MDMA and oxycodone could be positively identified at lowest concentration of 500ng/mL. Concentrations of 50ng/mL diazepam, 450ng/mL fentanyl and 4,500ng/mL oxycodone could be detected and positively identified up to 24 days in the disposable diapers stored in the refrigerator. Analysis by GC/MS of MDMA, diazepam, oxycodone, fentanyl, and mirtazapine extracted from diapers provide a suitable alternative to collection of urine, which is difficult in non-toilet trained individuals.
NoteM.S.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Genretheses, ETD graduate
LanguageEnglish
CollectionCamden Graduate School Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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