ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 8

Identification of Sugars in Explosive Residues by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Nowicki, J
Forensic scientist, Illinois State Police, Bureau of Forensic Sciences, IL

Pauling, S
forensic scientist, Home Office Forensic Science Laboratory, Huntingdon,

(Received 26 September 1987; accepted 4 January 1988)

Abstract

Chlorate/sugar mixtures are commonly used in improvised explosive devices. Sugars in the burnt chlorate/sugar residues are derivatized using trimethylsilylimidazole (TMSI) in pyridine. The resulting sugar-TMS derivatives are analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The presence of chlorates or byproducts of the chlorate/sugar reaction do not interfere in this process.

Keywords:
criminalistics, chemical analysis, sugars, explosives, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, derivatization

Paper ID: JFS12561J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12561J
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