Fast Gas Chromatography of Explosive Compounds Using a Pulsed‐Discharge Electron Capture Detector^*

Abstract

The detection of a mixture of nine explosive compounds, including nitrate esters, nitroaromatics, and a nitramine in less than 140 sec is described. The new method employs a commercially available pulsed-discharge electron capture detector (PDECD) coupled with a microbore capillary gas chromatography (GC) column in a standard GC oven to achieve on-column detection limits between 5 and 72 fg for the nine explosives studied. The PDECD has the benefit that it uses a pulsed plasma to generate the standing electron current instead of a radioactive source. The fast separation time limits on-column degradation of the thermally labile compounds and decreases the peak widths, which results in larger peak intensities and a concomitant improvement in detection limits. The combination of short analysis time and low detection limits make this method a potential candidate for screening large numbers of samples that have been prepared using techniques such as liquid-liquid extraction or solid-phase microextraction.

Ion spectrometric detection technologies for ultra‐traces of explosives: A review

“…Also non-radioactive pulsed-discharge (PD)-ECD-GC has been used in analysis of explosive mixtures. This method might allow improved selectivity and sensitivity of nitro-containing compounds by eliminating the interferences (Collin et al, 2006).…”

Sensors and Systems for the Detection of Explosive Devices - An Overview

“…An advantage of this method is its high sensitivity and the possibility of detecting various explosives (TNT, PETN, RDX, etc.) [37]. Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is one of the most widely used techniques for the trace detection of explosives.…”

“…A nucleus may possess an intrinsic nuclear spin working as a little magnet with magnetic momentum. In some nuclei such as 14 N, 17 O, 35 Cl, 37 Cl large quadrupolar interactions (spin relaxations) may be observed. The relaxations are characterized by the large line widths.…”

Towards optoelectronic detection of explosives

“…In comparison, the gas chromatog− raphy coupled with mass spectrometry or other sensors like Surface acoustic wave/gas provides a high sensitivity (even ppb−level or lower) and various explosives detection (TNT, PETN, RDX, etc.) [37,38]. Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) belongs to the most widely used techniques for the trace detection.…”