The detection and quantification of triacetone triperoxide (TATP) using LC/MS is investigated. GC/MS analysis of TATP is hindered by stationary phase activation in very short periods of time. Due to the lower temperatures used in LC. this problem is not encountered. This study presents a method that is suitable for the detection of TATP at levels as low as 100 pg microl(-1) (10 ng per 100 microl). Initial findings are also reported for the investigation of a secondary chromatographic peak, which is thought to be caused by separation of two conformers. This study concludes that LC/MS is a suitable technique for the analysis of trace levels of TATP.

The detection and quantification of trace amounts of hexamethylenetriperoxidediamine (HMTD), a primary organic peroxide explosive, is investigated by LC/MS. LC/MS is well suited to the analysis of explosive compounds, such as HMTD, that are thermally labile. This property of HMTD has prevented other chromatography separation techniques, such as GC/MS, from being successfully employed for the analysis of HMTD. In this paper, the development of an LC/MS method capable of detecting trace quantities of HMTD is described. Potentially, the method is capable of being used to detect a lower detection limit of 20 pg µl 21 (2 ng per 100 µl) of HMTD. In comparison to other chromatography separation techniques that are used for analysis of explosives and explosive mixtures, e.g. GC/MS and GC/TEA, this represents an extremely valuable technique. † JCrown copyright 2001/DSTL -published with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Fig. 1 Molecular structures for HMTD proposed by (a) Baeyer and Villiger (1900) and (b) Grisewald and Siegens (1921).

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