Analysis of Ecstasy Tablets Using Capillary Electrophoresis with Capacitively Coupled Contactless Conductivity Detection

A method for the identification of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine ( MDMA ) and meta‐chlorophenylpiperazine ( mCPP ) was developed employing capillary electrophoresis ( CE ) with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C 4 D). Sample extraction, separation, and detection of “ Ecstasy” tablets were performed in <10 min without sample derivatization. The separation electrolyte was 20 m m TAPS /Lithium, pH 8.7. Average minimal detectable amounts for MDMA and mCPP were 0.04 mg/tablet, several orders of magnitude lower than the minimum amount encountered in a tablet. Seven different Ecstasy tablets seized in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were analyzed by CE ‐C 4 D and compared against routine gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry ( GC ‐ MS ). The CE method demonstrated sufficient selectivity to discriminate the two target drugs, MDMA and mCPP , from the other drugs present in seizures, namely amphepramone, fenproporex, caffeine, lidocaine, and cocaine. Separation was performed in <90 sec. The advantages of using C 4 D instead of traditional CE ‐ UV methods for in‐field analysis are also discussed.