Development of Presumptive and Confirmatory Analytical Methods for the Simultaneous Detection of Multiple Improvised Explosives

On the Application of Microfluidic-Based Technologies in Forensics: A Review

“…While these techniques provide on-site detection, they are not multiplexed, and multiple tests must be performed to analyze an unknown explosive. Other drawbacks include inability to detect perchlorate, requirement of liquid reagents, and possibility of spilling before use [89].…”

“…A common inorganic compound of most explosive mixtures, namely nitrates (NO 3 − ), can be used to detect explosives using analytical methods. The detection of explosives containing oxidizers, e.g., perchlorates (ClO 4 − ), chlorates (ClO 3 − ) or peroxides (O 2 − ), is a more complicated procedure [89]. Since these materials possess a wide range of properties (e.g., various composition, volatility, and polarity properties), a variety of analytical methods can used to identify the associated explosives.…”

“…To achieve this goal, non-aqueous mobile phases (e.g., crown ethers) should be used to ensure that ions do not dissociate [73]. Crown ethers allow for the detection of both organic and inorganic explosives due to lack of interaction with organic explosives [89]. Combined MS with an electrochemical detector can be used for the simultaneous detection of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and organic/inorganic ions.…”

“…These two methods have been used to detect inorganic compounds (e.g., AN) [78,79,94]. IC equipped with conductivity detection (to measure electrical conductivity between two electrodes) has been developed to detect ionic species such as chlorate, perchlorate, and inorganic nitrate [89]. Gradients in ion chromatography have been shown to be the best procedure to detect inorganic explosives [95].…”

“…These methods can be used for the simultaneous detection of organic and inorganic explosives, especially at trace levels [89]. They have been utilized for screening peroxidebased explosives [91,97].…”