The study of thermal decomposition of RDX by corona discharge-ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry

Abstract

In this study we have examined the formation of ions from hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) sample evaporated at 473 K in reactions with reactant ions (RI) produced in negative corona discharge (CD). The ions have been analysed and detected by ion mobility spectrometry coupled to orthogonal acceleration time of flight spectrometer (IMS-oaTOF). The chemical ionisation was carried out byin CD operated in zero air in the reverse gas flow mode at elevated temperatures 438 K and by Cl − (H 2 O) n (n=0,1,2) at 332 K. In case of 332 K, the RI were prepared by admixture of carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 -dopant gas) in order to enhance sensitivity of RDX.

Formic Acid as a Dopant for Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization for Negative Polarity of Ion Mobility Spectrometry and Mass Spectrometry

“…In the case of standard ionization, an ion mobility peak was observed at 6.24 ms, accompanied by fragment peaks at lower drift times. The corresponding mass spectrum in Figure b shows that the peak at 6.24 ms is the adduct anion [RDX + NO 2 ] − and the fragment peaks are mainly due to NO 2 cleavage from RDX, which agrees with previous studies. ,− A weak peak was also observed for deprotonated RDX, [RDX – H] − . The FA dopant ionization suppresses all the fragment peaks, and only an intense peak at 6.28 ms is observed in the spectrum (Figure a).…”