Nuclear magnetic resonance identification and estimation of solvent residues in cocaine

Abstract Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to determine solvent residues in illicit cocaine exhibits. An internal standard was employed for the quantitative estimation of each of the five most common solvents found in exhibits: benzene, toluene, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and ethyl ether. Methylene chloride and ethyl acetate also were detected in cocaine exhibits for the first time.