ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 4 February 2004
Page Count: 7

New Developments in SPME Part 2: Analysis of Ammonium Nitrate-based Explosives
Walker, GS
Flinders University of South Australia, South Australia

Brown, H
Flinders University of South Australia, South Australia

Kirkbride, KP
Forensic Science, South Australia, South Australia

Pigou, PE
Forensic Science, South Australia, South Australia

(Received 21 June 2003; accepted 12 October 2003)

Abstract

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is a simple, reliable technique for the recovery and analysis of many organic explosives. However, this technique is impractical for the analysis of ammonium nitrate-type explosives due to the extreme polarity, low molecular weight, and high volatility of the amine moiety. This article describes an initial investigation of a derivatization process utilizing alkylchloroformates that converts ammonium nitrate and methylammonium nitrate into a form suitable for recovery by SPME and analysis by GC-MS.

Keywords:
SPME, explosives, ANFO, ammonium nitrate, methylammonium nitrate, GC-MS, ethylchloroformate, n-butylchloroformate, (-)-menthylchloroformate

Paper ID: JFS2003219
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2003219
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