Portable thin layer chromatography for field detection of explosives and propellants

Joe H. Satcher; Jon L. Maienschein; Philip F. Pagoria; Ana Racoveanu; M. Leslie Carman; Richard E. Whipple; John G. Reynolds

doi:10.1117/12.919258

4 May 2012 Portable thin layer chromatography for field detection of explosives and propellants

Joe H. Satcher, Jon L. Maienschein, Philip F. Pagoria, Ana Racoveanu, M. Leslie Carman, Richard E. Whipple, John G. Reynolds

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8358, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Sensing XIII; 83580Z (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.919258
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2012, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Abstract

A field deployable detection kit for explosives and propellants using thin layer chromatography (TLC) has been developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The chemistry of the kit has been modified to allow for field detection of propellants (through propellant stabilizers), military explosives, peroxide explosives, nitrates and inorganic oxidizer precursors. For many of these target analytes, the detection limit is in the μg to pg range. A new miniaturized, bench prototype, field portable TLC (Micro TLC) kit has also been developed for the detection and identification of common military explosives. It has been demonstrated in a laboratory environment and is ready for field-testing. The kit is comprised of a low cost set of commercially available components specifically assembled for rapid identification needed in the field and identifies the common military explosives: HMX, RDX, Tetryl, Explosive D or picric acid, and TNT all on one plate. Additional modifications of the Micro TLC system have been made with fluorescent organosilicon co-polymer coatings to detect a large suite of explosives.

Citation Download Citation

Joe H. Satcher, Jon L. Maienschein, Philip F. Pagoria, Ana Racoveanu, M. Leslie Carman, Richard E. Whipple, and John G. Reynolds "Portable thin layer chromatography for field detection of explosives and propellants", Proc. SPIE 8358, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Sensing XIII, 83580Z (4 May 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.919258

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