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Cover Feature: A Benzocaine‐Induced Local Near‐Surface pH Effect: Influence on the Accuracy of Voltammetric Cocaine Detection (Analysis & Sensing 1/2021)
Author(s) -
Jong Mats,
Sleegers Nick,
Schram Jonas,
Daems Devin,
Florea Anca,
De Wael Karolien
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
analysis and sensing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2629-2742
DOI - 10.1002/anse.202000036
Subject(s) - benzocaine , adulterant , chemistry , fluorescence , cover (algebra) , feature (linguistics) , chromatography , medicine , anesthesia , physics , optics , mechanical engineering , linguistics , philosophy , engineering
The Cover Feature shows that the voltammetric detection of cocaine is affected by the presence of benzocaine, a common adulterant in street samples. Benzocaine causes a large shift and current drop of the cocaine signal, resulting in a clouded and false negative analysis. This behaviour was shown to be a consequence of a benzocaine‐induced near‐surface pH effect. This local pH change was evidenced and monitored by multiple electrochemical and fluorescence approaches by using a green fluorescent fluorophore. More information can be found in the Full Paper by K. De Wael and co‐workers.