Trace Explosive Analysis
Trace Explosive Analysis - Related Videos
10:33
Research and Development of High-performance Explosives
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Cited by 2 •
2016
Developmental testing of high explosives for military applications involves small-scale formulation, safety testing, and finally detonation performance tests to verify theoretical calculations. This paper will share typical development tests associated with the measurement of detonation velocity and detonation pressure.
08:35
Minimum Burning Pressures of Water-based Emulsion Explosives
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2017
We present an apparatus based on hot-wire ignition in a pressurized enclosure and an associated methodology to measure the minimum pressure required to induce sustained combustion in water-based emulsion explosives. This method improves product characterization to allow one to use them more safely during pumping and mixing operations.
07:22
Standardized Method for Measuring Collection Efficiency from Wipe-sampling of Trace Explosives
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Cited by 7 •
2017
Optimized sampling protocols and the development of new wipe materials can be facilitated by standardized measurements of collection efficiency from wipe-sampling. Our approach for sampling trace explosives uses an automated device to control speed, force, and distance during wipe-sampling followed by extraction of collected explosives.
08:51
Coulomb Explosion Imaging as a Tool to Distinguish Between Stereoisomers
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Cited by 5 •
2017
For small chiral species, Coulomb Explosion Imaging provides a new approach to determine the handedness of individual molecules.
07:57
Quantitative Detection of Trace Explosive Vapors by Programmed Temperature Desorption Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detector
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Cited by 6 •
2014
Trace explosive vapors of TNT and RDX collected on sorbent-filled thermal desorption tubes were analyzed using a programmed temperature desorption system coupled to GC with an electron capture detector. The instrumental analysis is combined with direct liquid deposition method to reduce sample variability and account for instrumentation drift and losses.
FAQs
Several methods are valuable because explosive residues can be recognized through different analytical signals. Chemical spot tests indicate characteristic reactions, chromatography separates components in a mixture, spectroscopy examines molecular structures, and mass spectrometry measures mass-to-charge ratios. These complementary results can strengthen identification when a single test is affected by limited material or background chemicals.
Minute residues are vulnerable to loss, chemical degradation, and interference from background materials. A mixed sample may contain explosive-related compounds alongside unrelated chemicals, making an isolated signal harder to interpret. For that reason, analysts must control contamination during sampling and apply validated interpretation procedures rather than treating every detected chemical response as equally informative.
A trace result gains meaning from its relationship to the sample source, the analytical response, and the condition of the residue. Sparse or degraded material may provide incomplete evidence, while background chemicals can complicate identification. Trace explosive analysis can support a link to explosive handling or an incident, but careful interpretation is necessary to establish what the result shows.
Relevant samples may come from surfaces, debris, or air, depending on the investigative setting. Collection should preserve the limited residue available while minimizing contamination from handling or the surrounding environment. The selected sample then undergoes examination with suitable chemical, chromatographic, spectroscopic, or mass spectrometric methods to determine whether informative explosive-related signals are present.
The results can support several investigative needs, including linking evidence to explosive handling, examining materials after an explosion, and screening suspicious substances. In post-blast work, analysts may examine debris for remaining residues, while security investigations may focus on suspicious materials or collected environmental samples. The value of the result depends on reliable sampling and defensible interpretation.
Identification draws on chemical reactions, molecular structure, separation behavior, and mass-to-charge relationships. Spot tests use observable chemical responses, chromatography separates components before examination, spectroscopy provides structural information, and mass spectrometry distinguishes ions by their mass-to-charge ratios. Together, these principles give analysts multiple ways to characterize minute or chemically complex residues.