The issue of civil security and prevention of terrorist attacks in public places is becoming more and more actual every year. In this regard, increased attention is paid to detection of explosives. Of particular interest are methods to detect trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexogen (RDX), penthrite (PETN), octogen (HMX). Recently, gas-analytical, nuclear-physical, electromagnetic, terahertz, and biological detection methods have been developed. The lowest detection limit was achieved using gas-analytical methods, namely the non-linear ion mobility spectrometry method, with a limit of detection of 5.10-15 g/cm3. However, the question of feasibility of using these methods in real conditions is increasingly raised. There is an opinion that it is much more effective to detect explosives by traces than by vapor. In this work we investigated the possibility of detecting vapors of pure explosives with low saturated pressure of vapors. By the example of pure and faсtory hexogen, using the method of thermal-programmed desorption and mass spectrometry, it was shown that it is hexogen vapor, and not technological impurities or additives with saturated vapor pressure exceeding the saturated vapor pressure of hexogen, that are registered in the gas phase by ion mobility spectrometry. A technique was developed and proposed to concentrate RDX vapors. Using temperature-programmed desorption, the minimal time of concentration and surface fill factor were determined.
Cyclotrhylmethylentrinitramine (RDX) is one of the most dangerous explosive substances. The presence of impurities in this explosive may be important for its determination as residual traces at the scene of incidents, as well as in the quick analysis of passengers and luggage by ion mobility spectrometers. In the work industrially manufactured RDX samples, that were not undergone any purification, were investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method. The attention was paid to search precursors and possible technological admixtures. On the basis of received chromatograms and mass spectra it was established the presence in the analyzed RDX samples of urotropin, acetic anhydride, acetic acid, triazine and octogen. The mass content of the substances was estimated. Special attention was paid to the products of RDX biodegradation, which can occur both in aerobic and anaerobic environments during its storage. The quantitative content of RDX biodegradation products in samples under study was estimated. Sorption of chemically pure and industrially manufactured RDX vapors on a concentrator from metal meshes were carried out. By the method of thermodesorption mass spectrometry the composition and differences of the concentrated samples were analyzed. Recommendations for taking into account the results obtained when working with vapors and traces of RDX by ion mobility spectrometers were given.
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