THE DETERMINATION OF COCAINE AND RELATED SUBSTANCES BY MICELLAR ELECTROKINETIC CAPILLARY CHROMATOGRAPHY

A quantitative method for the determination of cocaine and related sub stances by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) is described. Quantitative results obtained for both monitor materials an d a number of actual drug seizures by this new capillary electrophoret ic method are comparable to a gas chromatography (GC) run in parallel, both in the values and coefficient of variation achieved. The advanta ges of this new method include minimal use of solvents, the ability to readily automate the procedure and the ability to quantitate illicit heroin seizures under the same conditions with the exception of detect or wavelength alteration. The method has proved rugged and reliable fo r both heroin and cocaine in a number of inter-laboratory proficiency studies.