Apparatus and methods for identifying compounds of interest

Three ultraviolet light sources 203, 204, 205, each with a discrete wavelength providing an excitation light, a sample holder 202 with a window, and a detector 201. The detector is substantially perpendicular to the sample holder window and each light source independently has an angle of incidence less than 90o to the window. The first discrete wavelength is between 190 nm-250 nm, the second discrete wavelength is between 240 nm-280 nm and the third discrete wavelength is between 250 nm-260 nm. The first UV light source may be a krypton chloride excimer lamp with a wavelength of 222 nm, the second a light emitting diode with a wavelength of 280 nm and the third a mercury discharge lamp with a wavelength of 254 nm. The detector may be a photodiode array detector or a camera with a detection range greater than 190 nm. There may be a bandpass filter 206 between the sample and detector. The compound of interest may be synthetic cannabinoids in a matrix e.g., paper.