HPLC in Explosive Analyses Examples

In July 2005, London was subjected to a series of terrorist attacks Bombs exploded on the public transport network at rush hour. Three bombs were detonated on trains in the London Undergroimd and one was detonated on the upper deck of a bus. It was initially thought that military-grade plastic explosives had been used in the attack on 7 July because it appeared that the explosions had been synchronised. However, it was later determined that the bombs were homemade devices consisting of triacetone triperox-ide (TATP). TATP is a peroxide-based explosive that is highly susceptible to shock, heat, and friction and is one of if not the most sensitive explosives known (Bubnikova et al. 2005). 

Peroxide-based explosives, such as TATP, diacetone diperoxide (DADP), and hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (MHTD) can be detected using HPLC-DAD at 214 nm (see Figmes 11.5 and 11.6). Successful LC-MS/MS of explosives has been reported, as has the use of ion mobility and liquid chromatography with amperometric detection (Vigneau and Machuron-Mandard 2009 Hilmi et al. 1999 Ou et al. 2009 Meng et al. 2008). 

---