HEADSPACE SAMPLING AND GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC MASS-SPECTROMETRIC DETERMINATION OF AMPHETAMINE AND METHAMPHETAMINE IN BETEL

A hot headspace sampling (HS) and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometr ic method (GC-MS) for the determination of amphetamine (AP) and metham phetamine (MA) in betel is described. The method uses potassium carbon ate to alkalize the aqueous matrix and to salt-out the analytes prior to I-IS. The complicated matrices necessitate the separate analysis of betel nut, piper betel, and red slaked lime, which are the three majo r parts of a finished betel product. Qualitative identification is aid ed by the mass spectrum provided by the proposed method. The limits of quantitation vary from 0.02 to 1.20 mu g/ml. Precisions calculated fo r the 5 and 50 mu g/ml concentration range are ca. 20%. The method is simple, rapid, solventless, and requires only a small amount of sample . It may serve as a screening protocol for the determination of AP and MA in betel.