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Research articles

ScienceAsia (): 320-326 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874...320


Detection of flunitrazepam through photocatalytic reaction of ZnO particles in coloured spirits by UV-Vis spectrophotometer


Sirintip Pongampaia,b, Pongsaton Amornpitoksuka, Proespichaya Kanatharanaa,c, Thitima Rujiralaia, Sumetha Suwanboond, Nararak Leesakula,*

 
ABSTRACT:     The photocatalytic effect of ZnO particles was developed for the detection of standard flunitrazepam and Rohypnol tablets in coloured spirit solution by a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. It is a screening technique for qualitative detection and quantitative estimating flunitrazepam concentration before getting the precise values by other high performance techniques. In an alcoholic solution with ZnO particles, the flunitrazepam is changed to 7-amino-flunitrazepam after irradiation. The absorption band shifts to a longer wavelength (309 nm to 345 nm). The photocatalytic parameters such as the reaction temperature, ZnO concentration, and irradiation time were studied in this work. With the optimum condition, the detection limits of standard flunitrazepam and Rohypnol are 0.024 mg/l and 0.092 mg/l in a solution mixture of ethanol and soda water (1:25). The method was applied to detect the flunitrazepam in coloured spirit brands in Thailand.

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a Department of Chemistry and Center for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand, 90112
b Department of Forensic Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Songkhla 90112 Thailand
c Trace Analysis and Biosensor Research Center, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla, University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand, 90112
d Department of Material Science and Technology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand, 90112

* Corresponding author, E-mail: nararak.le@psu.ac.th

Received 13 Jan 2011, Accepted 25 Oct 2011