Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1170407 Analytica Chimica Acta 2008 4 Pages PDF
Abstract

We demonstrate the potential of Raman spectroscopy to detect cocaine concealed inside transparent glass bottles containing alcoholic beverages. A clear Raman signature of cocaine with good signal-to-noise was obtained from a ∼300 g solution of adulterated cocaine (purity 75%) in a 0.7 L authentic brown bottle of rum with 1 s acquisition time. The detection limit was estimated to be of the order of 9 g of pure cocaine per 0.7 L (∼0.04 moles L−1) with 1 s acquisition time. The technique holds great promise for the fast, non-invasive, detection of concealed illicit compounds inside beverages using portable Raman instruments, thus permitting drug trafficking to be combated more effectively.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemistry Analytical Chemistry
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