Journal of Forensic Research

Determination of Drugs and Metabolites in Raw Wastewater Using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Klein DM, Pandey G, Blackwell B and Sperry K

A previous study in Lubbock, TX detected the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine in wastewater entering the municipal wastewater treatment plant. This work was conducted using chemical derivatization followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) determination. This is a report using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for determination of drug metabolites isolated from wastewater in Lubbock, TX by solid phase extraction (SPE). Using the LC-MS method, chemical derivatization is eliminated and multiple analytes can be determined in a single run. The results obtained showed that several compounds from different drug classes were detected. Compounds observed included cocaine, heroin, tetrahydrocannabinol, amphetamine, and benzodiazepine derivatives.