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Figure 3. HPLC separation of barbiturates on HI-EFF Micropart Silica Gel Column. Compounds: (1) hembarbital, (2) secobarbital, (3) aprabarbitai. (4) phenobarbital. Figure courtesy of Applied Science Labs.
Figure 2. Separation of cocaine, heroin, methadone, and their metabolites. Compounds: (1) ecgonine HCI. (2) secondary methadone metabolite HCI. (3) primary methadone metabolite HI. (4) methadone HCI, (5) cocaine HCI, (6) benroylecgonine.4H20, (7) morphine. (8) EOacetylmorphine HCI, (9) 3 , M i O-acetyimorphine. Derivatired with N.0-bis (himethylsilyi) acetamide. 10% OV-101 on 100/120 mesh Gas-Chrom (I.Courtesy of Applied Science Laboratories.
The recent developments in two areas are worth notinp. First, theadwnt oicapillars cvltmn GC has allowrd toxicoioaists again to stretch the limits on methods and the size of samples that can he reproducihly detected and measured. Capillary columns are those that use very small bore tubing for a column, with the adsorbent adhering to the sides of the column rather than being packed onto a solid, stable support. In many cases, this allows the substances in the carrier gas to equilibrate more rapidly with the adsorbent, producing a better separation. Second, rapid progress is being made in developing methods for high-pressure liquid chromatography. These methods are becoming so important that HPLC instruments are rapidly achieving the level of importance of other analytical . instruments in the toxicology lahcrrarory. Suhstances as diverse as \,itamins, analgesics, and harhiturarrs are nou, ot'rrn analvzrd In. kIPLC3 iser Fir. 3). This discussion would 6e incomplete if'it did& include the interfacine of instruments of basicallv different tvoes in order to provrde identification techniques far heyoidwhat anv one method could achieve. S~ecificallv.the advent of reiatively inexpensive, reliable, gas chrokatograph/mass spectrometer instruments, coupled with computer interfaces, is providing laboratories with a capability for identification and quantitation that is far beyond what has been available in the past. As an example ofthe wide use of such instruments, readers are undoubtedly familiar with the use of GCIMS methods in drue testine oro~rarnsa t race tracks. for large athletic events, su>h as the Olympics, and for othe; reeulated activities. or reeularlv scheduled oroerams. Bv a computer cfatata library with boih C k and MS data. oatterns of experimental data mav he matched against the library data, to determine the identity and quantity of a given compound. ~
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Blood Alcohol Analysis Newsletter, Supelco. Inc., Bellefonte. PA 16823.1980.
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An Open Fleld Toxicology is a profession in which both chemistry and biology play a very important role. The toxicologist may be working on a forensic problem, such as the determination of the cause of death. His or her assignment may be to determine the composition of a blood sample in order to prevent death, such as in the case of a drug overdose at a hospital. He or she may be assigned to determine the level of a particular water pollutant thought to be causing significant health problems.
Research Directions in Forensic Chemistry G. F. Sensabaugh Forensic Science Group De~artmentof Biomedical and Environmental HealIi- Sciences ~ c & o lof P L c~ hca tn .,n verslty o l Ca lorn a Berreley CA 94720
The orimarv comoonents of the oractice of forensic science are thr nnalgsis and interprrrntion of phyiical evidence in crim~nalund civil cases. Therefore,it is not surorisinr that forensic science research is also concerned with issues of analvsis and interpretation, The analvtical focus is principall; directed to the development of analytical methodologies that are appropriate, accurate, robust, and reliable in the forensic context. The interpretative concern is expressed in the generation of appropriate background knowledge so that the simificance of analvtical findinps can be under" stood and explained. Research addressing" both concerns has contributed sie" nificantly to the advancement of forensic science over the last decade. and it is clear to all who work in the field that the research effort must continue if the field is to continue to advance. I t is therefore appropriate to ask where forensic science research is headed. I t is also important to ask who is doing forensic science research and how it is supported; the who and the how obviously influence the direction of research in the field.
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Volume 62
Number 12 December 1985
1051
