Capillary column gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of explosives

Abstract

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) using a 15 m long capillary column has been employed in our laboratory for the analysis of explosives. The technique is suitable for most of the common military explosives. Nitroaromatic compounds like TNT were analysed easily and with high sensitivity and so were the volatile nitrate esters like glycerine trinitrate. Success was also achieved in the analysis of PETN and RDX, which had previously been reported to pose problems under GC conditions. Tetryl was shown to decompose during the analysis but its decomposition product was well defined and could serve as evidence to the presence of tetryl. The method was successfully applied to post-explosion debris from actual cases.