Methods of detecting and identifying munitions compounds

摘要

HPLC methods for detecting, identifying and quantifying munitions compounds or munitions materials are disclosed. Insensitive munitions explosives (IMX) can be detected along with conventional munitions compounds such as 2,4,6-trinitrotolene (TNT) in a single column analysis. The methods are also useful to provide analytical evaluation of soil samples, aqueous samples such as ground water samples and tissue samples containing insensitive munitions explosives (IMX).

主权项

1. A liquid chromatographic method for separation of mixtures comprising at least a first explosive compound and a second explosive compound, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a sample comprising at least said first and second explosive compounds, wherein said first explosive compound is a nitroaromatic and said second explosive compound is selected from the group consisting of nitroguanidine (NQ) and nitrotriazalone (NTO), (b) combining said sample with an initial acidic carrier solvent to form a sample solution, said initial acidic carrier solvent comprising less than about 99 % by volume water and alcohol, acetonitrile in an amount ranging from about 0% to about 5% by volume, and 1% or less by volume of an acidic component, said initial acidic carrier solvent having an initial volume % water and a corresponding initial volume % alcohol, based upon the composition of the initial acidic carrier solvent, (c) passing said sample solution through a liquid chromatography column, (d) continuously lowering said initial volume % water to a final volume % water and a corresponding final volume % alcohol, while continuing to pass acidic carrier solvent through said liquid chromatography column, such that a solvent gradient is established during said method, and (e) separating said at least two explosive compounds in said column.