Identifying Thermal Decomposition Products of Nitrate Ester Explosives Using Gas Chromatography–Vacuum Ultraviolet Spectroscopy: An Experimental and Computational Study

Cruse, Courtney A.; Pu, Jingzhi; Goodpaster, John V.

doi:10.1177/0003702820915506

Cited by 10 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…VUV spectra are specific to each analyte, making this tool useful to observe the isomeric, isobaric, and co-eluting compounds that are not easily identified by MS. Since its availability as a benchtop spectrometer, GC/VUV has been used for a variety of applications including fuels [23][24][25][26], food/ fragrance products [27][28][29], environmental [30][31][32], and forensic samples [22,[33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…GC/VUV has been used to study the thermal degradation of nitrate ester and nitramine explosives [22,44,46,47] and an optimized method for explosives analysis with application to post-blast debris has been reported [45]. Cruse et al have also identified SP organic additives in both unburned SP [22] and real post-blast debris [45] and added the subsequent spectra to the VUV spectral library.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantitative analysis of smokeless powder particles in post‐blast debris via gas chromatography/vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy (GC/VUV)

Reavis

Goodpaster

2022

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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Forensic analysis of smokeless powder particles recovered from the debris of an improvised explosive device can provide information about the type of smokeless powder used and can aid investigation efforts. In this study, quantitative methods were used to yield information about the difference in the chemical composition of the particles pre‐ and post‐blast. The technique, gas chromatography/vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy (GC/VUV), was able to quantify nitroglycerin, 2,4‐dinitrotoluene, diphenylamine, ethyl centralite, and di‐n‐butyl phthalate in pre‐ and post‐blast smokeless powder particles using heptadecane as an internal standard. Post‐blast debris was obtained via controlled explosions with assistance from the Indiana State Police Bomb Squad. Two galvanized steel and two polyvinyl chloride pipe bombs were assembled. Two devices contained single‐base smokeless powder and two contained double‐base smokeless powder. 2,4‐dinitrotoluene and diphenylamine were successfully quantified in the single‐base smokeless powder post‐blast debris while nitroglycerin, diphenylamine, and ethyl centralite were successfully quantified in the double‐base smokeless powder post‐blast debris. Compounds were detected at concentrations as low as 9 μg of 2,4‐dinitrotoluene per mg, <3 μg of diphenylamine per mg, 131 μg of nitroglycerin per mg, and <3 μg of ethyl centralite per mg. Concentration changes between pre‐ and post‐blast smokeless powder particles were determined as well as microscopic differences between pre‐ and post‐blast debris for both smokeless powders in all devices. To our knowledge, this is the first use of GC/VUV for the quantification of explosives.

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