IMPURITY PROFILING ANALYSIS OF ILLICIT METHAMPHETAMINE BY CAPILLARY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY

The characterizations of methamphetamine samples illegally marketed in Japan were examined by capillary gas chromatographic impurity profile s. The ethyl acetate-extract under basic condition showed the most cha racteristic and diagnostic gas chromatographic profiles. Most tested s amples showed different impurity profiles, though expected similaritie s existed between some samples found at the same places and times. The se profiles were not influenced by the storage of samples. The compari son of impurity profiles obtained by the reported procedure provides v ery useful information for determining the common and different origin of methamphetamine seizures.