Explosives-related compound

During World War II, copious quantities of ordnance were lost into the harbor at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Decades later, these UUXO now present a significant environmental contamination problem. Studies conducted on this ordnance by Sandia National Laboratories [1] suggest that there may be sufficient concentrations of explosive chemical signature compounds emanating from UUXO to enable detection with chemical sensors. Some UUXO in Halifax Harbor have been shown to produce parts-per-billion levels of explosives in the water near the ordnance. In addition to the parent explosive compound (TNT), other explosive-related compounds such as 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) were detected, as were degradation products of TNT such as 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (4-ADNT), and... 

As discussed previously, military-grade TNT is not a pure material, containing additional nitroaromatic constituents at concentrations of up to several percent by mass [4], Some of these explosive-related compounds (ERCs) have been shown to be significant contributors to the chemical fingerprint of a landmine [5, 7], Of the ERCs found in TNT, those that are most prevalent in the headspace vapor of TNT include 2,4-DNT, 2,6-DNT, 1,3-dinitrobenzene (1,3-DNB), and... 

Explosive-related compounds are transported to the surface of the soil primarily through the movement of water in the soil. Molecular diffusion plays only a... 

In addition to the IR, Raman and LIBS methods previously discussed, a number of other laser-based methods for explosives detection have been developed over the years. The following section briefly describes the ultraviolet and visible (UV/vis) absorption spectra of EM and discusses the techniques of laser desorption (LD), PF with detection through resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) or laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS), variations on the light ranging and detecting (LIDAR) method, and photoluminescence. Table 2 summarizes the LODs of several explosive-related compounds (ERC) and EM obtained by the techniques described in this section. 

Table 2. Detection limits for explosive-related compounds (ERC) and energetic materials (EM)...

Many of the organic constituents of FDR are explosive or explosive-related compounds and much of the work already done on the detection of explosive residues can be extended to include FDR. Explosives and their residues are usually analyzed using chromatographic techniques. Chromatography is the general name given to the methods by which two or more compounds in a mixture physically separate by distributing themselves between two phases (a) a stationary phase, which can be a solid or a liquid supported on a solid, and (b) a mobile phase, either a gas or a liquid which flows continuously around the stationary phase. The separation of individual components results primarily from differences in their affinity for the stationary phase. 

Ewing, R.G., Atkinson, D.A., Eiceman, G.A., Ewing, G.J. A critical review of ion mobility spectrometry for the detection of explosives and explosive related compounds. Talanta 54, 515-529 (2001)... 

In this work we examine the applicability of Laser Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry to the detection of explosives, explosive-related compounds (ERCs),... 

C. Mullen, A. Irwin, B. V. Pond, D. L. Huestis, M. J. Coggiola and H. Oser, Detection of Explosives and Explosives-Related Compounds hy Single Photon Laser Ionization Time-of-FlightMass Spectrometry, d or/. Chem. 78, 3807-3814 (2006). 

Although many other explosives and explosives-related compounds exist, only the data for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and its breakdown products, the cyclic nit-ramines (RDX and HMX), tetryl, trinitrobenzene, and nitroglycerin will be reviewed in this chapter. Two dinitrotoluene isomers are also included, as they are still used as explosives in addition to being side-products of TNT synthesis. 

In Vitro Microorganism-Based Systems Used to Assess Mutagenic Potential for Explosives and Explosives-Related Compounds... 

Once a landmine is deployed, a complex process begins in which the environment near the mine becomes contaminated with explosives and explosive-related compounds (ERCs) derived from the charge contained in the mine. It has been known for decades that mine detection dogs can detect the chemical vapour signature of explosives emanating from landmines [1]. More recently, detection of landmines by vapour-phase sensing of key... 

Ramos C. and Dagdigian P. J., Detection of vapors of explosives and explosive-related compounds by ultraviolet cavity ringdown spectroscopy, Applied Optics, Vol. 46, Issue 4, 620-627, 2007. 

Mullen, C, et al. (2006) Detection of explosives and explosives-related compounds by single photon laser ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Analytical Chemistry, 78, 3807-3814. 

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