Nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives

Grant, C. L., T. F. Jenkins, and S. M. Golden. Experimental Assessment of Analytical Holding Times for Nitroaromatic and Nitramine Explosives in Soil. SR 93-11, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, NH June 1993. 

Nitroaromatics and nitramine explosives TNT, tetryl, RDX Separated on C-18 or CN reverse phase column and UV detection at 254 nm... 

Fig. 1. Structures of nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives commonly determined by chemiluminescence. DNT, dinitrotoluene HMX, cyclotertamethylene tetranitramine NT, nitrotoluene RDX, cyclotrimethylene...

Mono and dichlorophenols Pentachlorophenol Phenols in tobacco smoke Nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives Nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives... 

Another important environmental and forensic application is the identification of explosives and their degradation products. A method based on liquid chromatography was unable to produce baseline resolution of 14 nitroaromatic and nitramine explosive compounds. The problem was solved as Bailey et al. tested the separation of the same mixture in CEC mode (column packed with 1.5-pm C18 silica) [89]. A baseline resolution of all 14 compounds was realized in 7 min in a second run, performed in less than 2 min, only 2 analytes of 14 co-eluted. To stabilize EOF and reduce peak tailing, SDS was added to the mobile phase. As in previous surfactant-mediated studies mentioned, changes in the elution order of the compounds were observed, suggesting a more complex separation mechanism (Figure 18, from Ref. 89). 

Major MA et al., Bioconcentration, Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification of Common Nitroaromatic and Nitramine Explosives and Their Metabolites and Environmental Breakdown Products, Final Technical Report, Toxicology Study No. 87-MA-4677-01, Health Effects Research Program, Directorate of Toxicology, U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 2002. 

Bioconcentration, Bioaccumulation, and Biomagnification of Nitroaromatic and Nitramine Explosives in Terrestrial Systems... 

Nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives have been found in environmental media at considerable concentrations at numerous military sites. Some of these locations provide valuable habitat to plants and animals. Therefore, it is important to understand the dynamics of how these compounds can move through the food web to determine if exposure is sufficient to cause harm. 

Checkai RT et al., Transport and Fate of Nitroaromatic and Nitramine Explosives in Soils from Open Burning Open Detonation Operations at Anniston Army Depot, ERDEC-TR-135, Edgewood Research Development and Engineering Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 1993. 

Saravanan NP, Venugopalan S, Senthilkumar N et al (2006) Voltammetric determination of nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives contamination in soil. Talanta 69 656-662... 

Table 7.2 Nitroaromatics and Nitramines Detected by CRREL and MRD in Explosives-Contaminated Soils from Army Sites...

The primary constituents of waste streams from explosives operations that result in soil contamination are nitroaromatics and nitramines including the following ... 

Birds respond differently than mammals to oral nitroaromatic and nitramine exposure. Although hematological parameters are often affected by high exposures, the resiliency of the avian hematopoietic system and the refractory nature of the nucleated red blood cells suggest that the blood is not a sensitive target. Explosive compounds appear to predominantly affect the central nervous system (CNS) and cause neuromuscular effects (e.g., convulsions, lethargy, and tremors). The moiety as well as the potential mode of action responsible for these effects is largely unknown. 

Delpuech, A. and Cherville, J. (1978) "Relation Between Electronic Structure and Shock Sensitivity of Secondary Nitro Explosives Molecular Criterion of Sensitivity. Part I. Nitroaromatics and Nitramines", Propellants and Explosives, 3, pp. 169-175. 

PBX), which are based on a binder and a crystalline explosive such as RDX. Secondary explosives also can be classified according to their chemical structure as nitroaromatics, which include TNT, and nitramines, which include RDX. 

The Fido sensor is an extremely sensitive and selective detector for nitroaromatic explosives such as TNT. The sensor has also been shown to detect most smokeless powders and black powders. Work is now underway to develop polymers that enable detection of nitramine explosives, such as RDX and HMX. Recently, a new polymer was tested that shows promise for detection of the taggant dimethyldinitro butane (DMNB). Development of polymers for detection of peroxide-based explosives is also planned. 

A SB-P-CD-assisted EKC method for the determination of cyclic nitramine explosives and related degradation intermediates and the 14 ERA listed explosives (borate/SDS electrolyte) has been described. " A volatile electrolyte composed of SB- -CD modified ammonium acetate buffer was selected for the EKC-MS detection of nitroaromatic and cyclic nitramine compounds in soil and marine sediment, as detailed in Table 31.7. The use of phosphate/SDS electrolytes was reported in the separation of the 14 listed nitramine and nitroaromatic explosives for the analysis of extracts of high explosives such as C-4, tetrytol, and detonating cord. " ... 

Walsh ME. Determination of nitroaromatic, nitramine, and nitrate ester explosives in soil by gas chromatography and electron capture detector. Talanta 2001 54 427-438. 

Grant et al. [30] found that nitramine and nitroaromatic explosive residues in real field soil samples were stable under refrigeration, but nitroaromatics used to fortify samples degraded rapidly, even when samples were refrigerated. Therefore, fortified soils can lead to significant errors. 

The following examples illustrate the range of apphcations of LC/MS for trace analysis of explosives ESI-LC/MS/MS-CID fragmentation processes of a series of nitroaromatic, nitramine and nitrate ester explosives were studied in the negative-ion mode using daughter-ion, parent-ion and neutral loss scans [14]. Table 1 shows the CID daughter ions in ESI-MS/MS of TNT. 

---