Restek Corporation • (800) 356-1688 •
Anesthetics
Volatile anesthetics belong to a groupof lowmolecularweight
halogenated compounds. The abuse of volatile anesthetics is
uncommonbut has been reported amonghospital personnel and
otherswith access to anesthetic agents (Figure 2).
AlkylNitrites
Alkyl nitrites are abused for their vasodilationproperties.Abuse
has centeredon the abilityof alkyl nitrites toproduce short-lived
highs andpossible aphrodisiac sensations.Analysis of alkyl nitrites
inbiological samples is complicatedby the fact that alkyl nitrites
are rapidlyhydrolyzed to their corresponding alcohol.Analytical
methods should take this into account bymonitoring for both the
parent compound and the corresponding alcohol (Figure 3).
1. isoflurane
2. enflurane
3. halothane
4. methoxyflurane
min. 2
6
4
4
3
2
1
min. 2
6
4
1
4
3
2
Rtx
®
-BAC1
Rtx
®
-BAC2
8
8
1.
tert
-butyl nitrite
2. iso-butyl nitrite
3.
sec
-butyl nitrite
4.
n
-butyl nitrite
5. iso-amyl nitrite
5
4
3
2
1
min. 2
6
4
1
5
4
3
2
Rtx
®
-BAC1
Rtx
®
-BAC2
8
10
30m, 0.53mm ID, 3.0µmRtx
®
-BAC1 (cat.# 18001) and 30m, 0.53mm ID, 2.0µmRtx
®
-BAC2 (cat.# 18000). 1.0mL headspace sample;
Oven temp.:
40°C (hold 5min.) to 240°C@ 5°C/min.;
Inj. &det. temp.:
240°C;
Carrier gas:
He;
Linear velocity:
65cm/sec.
30m, 0.53mm ID, 3.0µmRtx
®
-BAC1 (cat.# 18001) and 30m, 0.53mm ID, 2.0µmRtx
®
-BAC2 (cat.# 18000). 1.0mL headspace sample;
Oven temp.:
40°C (hold 5min.) to 240°C@ 5°C/min.;
Inj. &det. temp.:
240°C;
Carrier gas:
He;
Linear velocity:
65cm/sec.
1.
tert
-butyl alcohol
2. iso-butyl alcohol
3.
sec
-butyl alcohol
4.
n
-butyl alcohol
5. iso-amyl alcohol
min. 2
6
4
8
10
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
Figure 2
Fast analysis times for volatile anesthetics on the Rtx
®
-BAC1 andRtx
®
-BAC2 columns.
Figure 3
Complete screening and confirmation for alkyl nitrites andmetabolites on the Rtx
®
-BAC1 andRtx
®
-BAC2 columns.
