The Mandelin reagent is used as a simple spot-test to presumptively identify alkaloids as well as other compounds. It is composed of a mixture of ammonium metavanadate and concentrated sulfuric acid. Its primary use is for the detection of ketamine and PMA[1] Unlike the most common reagent test chemicals, it has a deep red colour that changes to yellow if there is no alkaloid, which occurs within about 48 hours of mixing.[2]

The United States Department of Justice method for producing the reagent is the addition of 100 mL of concentrated (95–98%) sulfuric acid to 0.5[3]-1 g of Ammonium metavanadate.[4]

This reagent was invented by the German pharmacologist, Karl Friedrich Mandelin (1854–1906) at the University of Dorpat.

Final colors produced by Mandelin Reagent with various substances[4]
Substance Color
2C-T-7 Wine dark to Black[5]
Acetaminophen Moderate olive
Benzphetamine Brilliant yellow green
Chlorpromazine Dark olive
Cocaine Deep orange yellow
Codeine Dark olive
d-Amphetamine Moderate bluish green
d-Methamphetamine Dark yellowish green
Diacetylmorphine (Heroin) Moderate reddish brown
Dimethoxymethamphetamine Dark olive brown
Doxepin Very reddish brown
Dristan Greyish olive
Exedrine Dark olive
Ketamine Deep reddish orange[1]
Mace Moderate olive green
MDA Bluish black[6]
MDMA Bluish black[6]
Mescaline Dark yellowish brown
Methadone Dark greyish blue
Methaqualone Very orange yellow
Methylphenidate Brilliant orange yellow
Morphine Dark greyish reddish brown
Opium Olive black
Oxycodone Dark greenish yellow
Procaine Deep orange
Propoxyphene Dark reddish brown
Psilocybin Green [7]
Paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA) Reddish brown [1]
Paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA) Reddish brown [1]
Salt (NaCl-HCl) Strong orange

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Mandelin EZ Testing Kit". EZ Test. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
  2. ^ "Reagent Tests UK - Mandelin reagent". Reagent Tests UK. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  3. ^ Poe, Charles F.; O'Day, David W. (2006). "A study of Mandelin's test for strychnine". Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association. 19 (12): 1292. doi:10.1002/jps.3080191206.
  4. ^ a b "Color Test Reagents/Kits for Preliminary Identification of Drugs of Abuse" (PDF). Law Enforcement and Corrections Standards and Testing Program. July 2000. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
  5. ^ "2-C-T-7 Mandelin". Reagent Base.
  6. ^ a b "Dancesafe Mandelin Reagent". Dancesafe. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  7. ^ Mahmood, Zafar Alam (2013). "Bioactive Alkaloids from Fungi: Psilocybin". Natural Products: Phytochemistry, Botany and Metabolism of Alkaloids, Phenolics and Terpenes. Springer-Verlag. pp. 523–552. ISBN 978-3-642-22143-9.


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