Detection of azide in forensic samples by capillary electrophoresis

Azide salts are highly toxic compounds that have been difficult to detect i n forensic samples. Here, anion analysis by capillary electrophoresis with indirect spectrophotometric detection was applied to detect azide in forens ic specimens from two suicide victims. Gastric specimens from the victims w ere shown to have high azide concentrations; azide represented one of the m ajor anionic components and no corresponding component occurred in normal g astric juice. Samples of blood and bile had low concentrations of azide nea r the limits of detection. The method described for azide analysis used sim ple steps for sample preparation and analysis time was less than 10 min per sample. It offers a simple and reliable method for detecting azide in biol ogical fluids.