Identification and quantitative determination of morphine in the urine of heroin dependents.

Morphine in the urine of heroin addicts was identified by TLC using methanol, water, benzene and glacial acetic acid (80:15:15:5) and ethyl acetate, methanol and ammonium hydroxide (25:10:5) as solvent systems and potassium iodoplatinate and iodine as the developing reagents. Potassium iodate in alkaline medium gives a yellowish golden colour having maximum absorbance at 450 nm. By this reaction the minimum limit of identification and quantitative determination of morphine is 2 microg/ml. It provides a basis for the spectrophotometric determination of morphine in the urine of heroin addicts.