Determination of Ecstasy Components in Human Urine by Gas Chromatography using a Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction Procedure

A new method was developed for preconcentration and determination of ecstasy compounds, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA) and 3,4-methylenedioxypropylamphetamine (MDPA), in urine samples using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) and gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The method was based on the formation of tiny droplets of an organic extractant in prepared sample solution using water, immiscible organic solvent (CS2) dissolved in water-miscible organic disperser solvent (acetone). The organic phase, which extracted MDA, MDEA, MDMA and MDPA from the prepared sample solution, was separated by centrifugation. Parameters affecting extraction efficiency were investigated and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, linearities of the method were 1.0-500 mu g L-1 for MDEA and MDPA and 2.5-500 mu g L-1 for MDA and MDMA. The limits of detection (LODs, S/N = 3, signal-to-noise ratio) were in the range from 0.3 to 0.8 mu g L-1. The method was successfully applied to the determination of analytes in urine samples.