Applications of IMS for Explosives Determinations

A first approach to determining explosives on-site might include a combination of specialized sample-collection techniques and subsequent analysis using established IMS technologies or instruments. A second level of development could involve the fabrication of analyzers or analytical systems for an on-site operation and real-time analysis of samples. During the past several years, the first step of development has been demonstrated for explosives in water, in soils, and in a few unique uses. 

Buxton and Harrington [68] used SPE to pre-concentrate explosives and remove matrices. Water samples were passed through commercially available SPE disks. After the extraction step, the SPE disk containing explosives was inserted into 

The determination of explosives in soils has been mostly commonly associated with the detection of unexploded ordnance such as land mines (both anti-personnel and anti-tank). Chambers et al. [70] designed sampling subsystems for soil/vapor sampling. A probe was used to extract and concentrate vapors of explosives in the pore volume of soil in the vicinity of land mines with sub-part-per-biUion detection limits for TNT and related explosive munitions compounds [70]. As an 

Method 0.3 m from shell 1 m from shell 2 m from shell 3 m from shell 

An application well-suited for IMS is the decommissioning and cleanup of sites where extensive manufacturing of explosives has taken place in the last century and where widespread contamination of soils and waters has occurred [74]. Decontamination of model metal scrap artificially contaminated with TNT and of decommissioned mortar rounds stiU containing explosives residue was followed by sampling surfaces with analysis by a portable mobility spectrometer. Mixed anaerobic microbial populations of bioslurries were employed in decontamination of scrap and the mortar rounds, and the IMS analyzer was seen as a sensitive field 

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