Mandelin Reagent
Definition
Ammonium metavanadate (NH4VO3) in concentrated sulphuric acid. Useful for amphetamines (orange-red), MDMA (dark blue-black) and cocaine (yellow-orange). The Mandelin-Marquis panel is recommended for field distinction of MDMA from PMA-containing tablets.
- Composition
- Ammonium metavanadate in concentrated sulphuric acid
- Amphetamines
- Orange-red colour
- MDMA
- Dark blue-black colour
- Cocaine
- Yellow-orange colour
- Field use
- Paired with Marquis reagent to distinguish MDMA from PMA
Common questions
Why is Mandelin paired with Marquis reagent rather than used alone in the field?+
Marquis reagent alone gives similar purple-to-black colours for MDMA and the more dangerous adulterant PMA, so running Mandelin alongside it, which differentiates the two by a distinct colour response, reduces the risk of misidentifying a PMA-containing tablet as ordinary MDMA.
Is a Mandelin colour result confirmatory evidence in court?+
No. Presumptive colour tests indicate a class of compound is likely present but are not specific enough to identify a substance definitively, so a positive result is followed by instrumental confirmation such as GC-MS before an identification is reported.
Related terms
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- Marquis Reagent
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