Special-T.B.K said:
I feel perhaps a thread where people can photograph their crank or juice. But police could be a problem.
I dunno, doesn't matter. The shyte gets jumped the F*ck on. So perhaps a sticky on identifying cuts and especially dangerous adulterants. If there really is a way. Complications that may come due to leftover residues/waxes from synth. Cause really there's not all that much stuff about that side of things. LOL- What not to boot!
Without proper lab facilities it's impossible to completely identify many impurities.
In light of that:
1) If it's coloured and or gluggy it's definitely impure - avoid if possible or clean if desperate. (details can be found, UTSE)
2) If it's white or crystalline, a melting point test can be done. (MPs have been posted here before - again, UTSE). A narrow MP range indicates purity. A significantly lower MP or melting across a broad temperature range indicates an impure sample.
3) TLC can be performed, and can provide valuable information on purity and characteristics of impurities. TLC can also be used in conjunction with test kit reagents, providing additional information (really improves the reliability of test kits).
A dedicated melting point apparatus can be purchased online, although units are generally quite expensive. S/H units are around though. An alternative, less accurate but still worthwhile method includes using a test tube (thiele type is best), a thermometer and heat source. If using a tube get an assistant to write down the results as observed. I believe details have been posted here before.
As indicated by my opening statement, I doubt there is much HR value in posting pics of dirty meth with the hope of finding out what the impurities are. But if every picture posted of white or near white product had been subjected to the melting point test, we'd have a lot more info, and it might just help the rose coloured glasses wearers among us realise that
"all that glitters isn't gold".
If someone was serious about identifying these impurities, if not specifically by name, but by specific characteristics, then a database of thin layer chromatography results could be assembled. The techniques are simple, and don't require large samples or an in-depth knowledge of chemistry. If you ever did high school chem and remember an experiment where you separated inks on blotting paper, then you've already done
simple chromatography
More can be found online, but for those unable to search....
Wiki- Thin Layer Chromatography
Chem UCLA
CU Buolder Organic Chem Undergrad courses
Chemguide.co.uk - Thin Layer Chromatography
Google video results for TLC
For anyone interested, I'd suggest using OTC products such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, acetylsalicylic acid etc to get familiar with the techniques.
So what will TLC tell you? Well, to put it simply, if there's only a single compound present, you will end up with a single spot. If you have a mixture, these will usually separate (if not change the mobile phase mixture ratio). Sometimes both will travel along the stationary phase (TLC plate) at a similar rate under certain conditions, but alter the parameters on the next run, and they normally separate. So, if a certain impure product shows a typical Rf (retention factor) for meth (Clarkes Analysis of Drug s and Poisons has this data) as well as other spots indicating impurities, then the Rf values can be noted and compared against future samples. Also note, some adulterants and impurities such as pseudo are also listed the Clarke's reference, meaning these can be identified using TLC.
. Makes sense. I just hope with the increase in piperazines and various other RCs that have infiltrated the ecstasy market don't eventually end up being sold as powdered and/or crystal methamphetamine to unknowing users. But like you say it's too hard to determine exactly what product someone may have obtained from a simple visual description/picture when it comes to 'speed'.
Peace out.
