ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 October 1982
Page Count: 9

Transfer of Nitroglycerine to Hands during Contact with Commercial Explosives
Higgs, DG
Principal scientific officer, EM2 Branch, Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment,

Twibell, JD
Senior scientific officer and assistant scientific officer, Home Office Central Research Establishment, Berkshire

Home, JM
Senior scientific officer and assistant scientific officer, Home Office Central Research Establishment, Berkshire

Smalldon, KW
Principal scientific officer, Home Office Forensic Science Laboratory, Euxton

(Received 16 December 1982; accepted 20 January 1982)

Abstract

The techniques of thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography with electron capture detection, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry were used to analyze hand swab extracts for the presence of nitroglycerine. Both the amount of nitroglycerine transferred to the hands after handling commercial explosives and its persistence were measured. Gas chromatography-electron capture detection was found to be the most accurate and sensitive technique for making such determinations, especially if the extract was partially purified by thin-layer chromatography prior to analysis. The lowest limit of detection was 10 ng of nitroglycerine, and residues could be detected over 20 h after handling the raw explosive.

Keywords:
criminalistics, explosives, nitroglycerine, gas chromatography, acetone, thin-layer chromatography, mass spectrometry

Paper ID: JFS12193J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12193J
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