Chemical signatures of TNT-filled land mines

Ultrasensitive detection of explosives and chemical warfare agents by low-pressure photoionization mass spectrometry

“…Fragment ions of NB were not found owing to the fact that the fragment formation occurs at no less than 10.9 eV [28]. Apart from the protonated water and water clusters, the additional mass peaks at m/z 33, 47, and 65 were assigned to protonated CH 3 OH, C 2 H 5 OH, and (CH 3 OH) 2 , respectively. Protonated CH 3 OH, C 2 H 5 OH, and (CH 3 OH) 2 were attributed from the cleaning agent used to clean the chamber, absolute ethyl alcohol.…”

“…Apart from the protonated water and water clusters, the additional mass peaks at m/z 33, 47, and 65 were assigned to protonated CH 3 OH, C 2 H 5 OH, and (CH 3 OH) 2 , respectively. Protonated CH 3 OH, C 2 H 5 OH, and (CH 3 OH) 2 were attributed from the cleaning agent used to clean the chamber, absolute ethyl alcohol. The mass spectrum of NB was dominated by protonated NB, while the intensity of the molecular ion peak was only $ 1/5 of that of protonated NB.…”

“…The direct detection of such substances is a challenge due to their low vapor pressures [1]. 2,4-Dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT), an impurity that is produced during the production of TNT, accounts for 35% of the vapor composition because of its much higher vapor pressure [2]. Thus, 2,4-DNT is suggested to be the best chemical signature for the vapor-phase detection of TNT [2][3][4][5].…”

“…2,4-Dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT), an impurity that is produced during the production of TNT, accounts for 35% of the vapor composition because of its much higher vapor pressure [2]. Thus, 2,4-DNT is suggested to be the best chemical signature for the vapor-phase detection of TNT [2][3][4][5]. Additionally, the degradation products of TNT, such as nitrotoluene (NT) and nitrobenzene (NB), also have higher vapor pressures, and thus could serve as suitable chemical signatures for such explosives [6].…”

Detection of Aromatic Nitro Compounds Using Preconcentrator and SPR Immunosensor

“…Another kind of explosive, 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), is also contained as an impurity. These substances, being volatile, have an extremely low concentration in soil and air near the buried place (2) . Dogs detect these explosives related to landmines as smell.…”