Electrochemistry and analytical determination of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) via adsorptive stripping voltammetry

highlights
• A stripping voltammetric method for the determination of LSD was developed.
• The electrochemistry of LSD in non-aqueous solution was investigated.
• The method, alternative to mass spectroscopic techniques, is very sensitive (LOQ of 4.3 ng L−1).
• The method is suitable for the analysis of biological samples after LSD extraction with 1-chlorobutane.

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is hardly detectable and quantifiable in biological samples because of its low active dose. Although several analytical tests are available, routine analysis of this drug is rarely performed. In this article, we report a simple and accurate method for the determination of LSD, based on adsorptive stripping voltammetry in DMF/tetrabutylammonium perchlorate, with a linear range of 1–90 ng L−1 for deposition times of 50 s. LOD of 1.4 ng L−1 and LOQ of 4.3 ng L−1 were found. The method can be also applied to biological samples after a simple extraction with 1-chlorobutane.

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