Exploring Rapid, Sensitive and Reliable Detection of Trace Explosives Using Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry (PS‐MS)

Abstract

In this publication we work towards providing fast, sensitive and selective analysis of explosive compounds collected on swabs using paper spray mass spectrometry. We have (a) increased the size of the paper spray substrate to 1.6×2.1 cm for compatibility with current practise in swabbing for explosive material; (b) developed a method for determining a successful extraction of analyte from the substrate to reduce false negative events; and (c) expanded the range of analytes that can be detected using paper spray to include the peroxide explosive HMTD, as well as nitroglycerine (NG), picric acid (PA) and tetryl. We report the development of a 30 s method for the simultaneous detection of 7 different explosive materials using PS‐MS with detection limits below 25 pg, as well as detection of HMTD at 2500 pg, showing an improvement on previously published work.

Paper spray screening and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry confirmation for medication adherence testing: A two‐step process

“…This work is the first example of paper spray followed by LC/MS analysis and it has a wide range of potential applications, which could be explored in future work. For example, our recent work has shown the applicability of applying paper spray to materials collected on swabs for forensic applications 25 . In this case, paper spray offers sufficient sensitivity, but subsequent LC/MS analysis would provide a characteristic retention time, allowing greater confidence in peak assignment.…”

“…Paper spray mass spectrometry was carried out using a custom‐made paper spray source as per our previous work 25,30 . The paper spray source was coupled to a Thermo Scientific™ Q Exactive™ Plus Hybrid Quadrupole‐Orbitrap™ mass spectrometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Hemel Hempstead, UK).…”

“…The formed droplets, containing ions of the analyte, travel through the air, undergoing desolvation before entering a mass spectrometer. [1][2][3][4] Paper spray has been used qualitatively and quantitatively in many application areas from biological matrix analysis, [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] to foodstuff analysis, [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] explosives [24][25][26][27] and warfare agents. 28,29 Most recently, our group has reported the application of paper spray for the rapid detection of drugs of abuse in fingerprints 30,31 and explosives on swabs.…”

Preliminary Study on Double Enhanced Raman Scattering Detection of Gas Phase Trace Explosives

“…Traditional trace explosive detection technology mainly includes spectroscopic technology, chemical reaction sensor technology and biosensor technology. These technologies have problems such as large equipment quality and volume, inability to continuously repeat sampling, poor environmental adaptability, low selectivity, and environmental pollution [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection technology has become a trend and hot spot in the field of trace explosives detection because it can recognize the structural information of substances at the molecular level, and has high detection sensitivity (or even single molecule detection) and high selectivity.…”

Utilizing Surface Acoustic Wave Nebulization (SAWN) for the Rapid and Sensitive Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Organic Explosives

“…The sensitivity of TATP analysis was improved by doping the spray solvent with suitable cations for adduct ion creation [19]. More recently, explosive trace analysis with paper spray ionization mass spectrometry (PS-MS) has been demonstrated [20,21]. When designed properly, the paper substrate can be used to swipe surfaces but swabs can also be used directly in a similar fashion [22].…”