ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 October 1979
Page Count: 5

Analysis and Characterization of Military-Grade Trinitrotoluene by Gas Chromatography
Basch, A
Guest scientist and head, Analytical Laboratory,

Kraus, S
Guest scientist and head, Analytical Laboratory,

(Received 22 January 1979; accepted 10 May 1979)

Abstract

Military grade trinitrotoluene (TNT), manufactured by complex nitration and purification procedures [1], contains over 99% α-2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and trace amounts of precursors, isomers, and oxidation by-products. The detection and determination of TNT and other explosives by gas chromatography (GC) has been reported by a number of authors and summarized in a recent review [2]. Impurities in TNT have been identified by thin-layer chromatography [3], nuclear magnetic resonance [4], and GC [5–7]. The major impurities in commercial TNT were found to be 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT); 2,3,4-TNT; 2,3,5-TNT; and 2,4,5-TNT in reported concentrations of 0.1 to 0.4%, with traces of other DNT isomers detected. A novel method for characterizing TNT origins by means by variation in ¹³C/¹²C ratios has been reported [8].

Keywords:

Paper ID: JFS10916J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS10916J
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