PETN pentaerythritol tetryl

Investigated explosives included 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,4,6,N-tetranitro-N-methylaniline (tetryl), l,3,5-trinitro-l,3,5-triazacyclohexane (RDX), 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-l,3,5,7-tetrazacyclooctane (HMX) and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN). The temperature of the injector, cooled with liquid CO2, was —5°C for 0.3 min, programmed from —5 to 250° C, at a rate of 200°C/min, with a final hold time of 8.4 min. The column temperature was 80° C for 2 min, programmed to 250° C at 25°C/min, with a final hold of 2 min. Electron ionization (El) in the positive-ion mode was used. Figure 4 shows the mass chromatograms of a mixture of explosives (lOppb each), extracted from water by Hquid—liquid extraction and X 100 concentration. Identification was based on typical fragment ions for each one of the explosives. 

Fig. 1.3 Molecular structures of picric acid (PA), tetryl, trinitrotoluene (TNT), Nitroguanidine (NQ), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), hexogen (RDX), octogen (HMX), hexanitrostilbene (HNS) and triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB).

MC found primarily at impact areas and tiring lines of U.S. military testing and training ranges often consist of mixtures of residues from several MC. These may include the nitroaromatic explosive compounds 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,4- and 2,6-dinitro-toluene (DNT), and trinitrophenylmethylnitramine (tetryl) nitrate esters such as nitrocellulose (NC), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), and nitroglycerin (NG) and the nitramine compounds, hexahydro-l,3,5-trinitro-l,3,5-triazine (RDX) and octahydro-l,3,5,7-tetranitro-l,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX). Most of these MC have been in use for decades, either as primary or secondary explosives or in propellant compositions. 

Explosives—Trinitrotoluene (TNT), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), polymer-bonded explosive (PBXN), Research Department Explosive (RDX) compositions, explosive D, tetryl, fulminate of mercury, black powder, smokeless powder, flashless powder, and rocket and missile propellants. 

---