Supported liquid-liquid extraction of the active ingredient (3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine) from ecstasy tablets for isotopic analysis

A method was developed for the isolation of 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA) and other active ingredients from illicit ecstasy tablets. The method employed supported liquid extraction (SLE) with cartridges containing a modified form of diatomaceous earth. The method developed was simple and robust and the extract could be analysed directly, by GC-MS, to identify ingredients and reduced in volume for isotope ratio MS analysis of both delta C-13 and delta N-15. The technique was shown to be highly reproducible, independent of the tablet matrix and considerably faster than existing liquid-liquid extraction methods. Crucially, no significant isotopic fractionation was observed as a result of the extraction process. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.