Nitroaromatic compounds, including 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro-1,3, 5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5-tetrazocine (HMX), N-methyl-N,2,4,6-tetranitroaniline (tetryl), and associated byproducts and degradation products, were released to the environment during manufacturing and load, assembly, and pack (LAP) processes at U.S. Army Ammunition Plants (AAPs) and other military facilities. As a result of the release of these nitroaromatic compounds into the environment, many AAPs have been placed on the National Priorities List for Superfund cleanup (Fed. Reg. 60:20330). Many of these sites cover a wide expanse of relatively undisturbed land and provide diverse habitats that support a variety of aquatic and terrestrial species. Nitroaromatics are potentially toxic to the indigenous species at these sites and present a significant concern for site remediation. Table 1 presents an overview of ranges of detected concentrations of the nitroaromatic compounds in groundwater, surface water, sediment, and soil at military and manufacturing sites.

Nitroaromatic Munition Compounds: Environmental Effects and Screening Values

Detection of explosives with a coated piezoelectric quartz crystal

I. INTRODUCTION The analysis of explosives is of major importance in several analytical fields: 1. Forensic identification of explosives is a major problem in the criminalistic investigation of a bombing which involves connecting the type of explosive used with the suspect. The detection and identification of explosive residues in debris material constitutes a highly difficult task. The thermal instability of most explosives, along with the requirements of high sensitivity of the analysis, limit the number of analytical techniques which can be used in such determinations. 2. The detection of explosives concealed in airline baggage or in mail is an extremely relevant analytical problem which requires a highly sensitive as well as a specific method for its solution. Highly specific monitors are expected to identify and detect the presence of molecules of explosive material in the sampled air environment in the suspected baggage or mail. 3. The accurate determination of the composition of explosives is very ...

Analysis of Explosives

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has been evaluated for the recovery of explosives residues from aqueous samples and real post-explosion solid debris samples and optimized using gas chromatography with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD) and high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). A modified SPME/HPLC interface utilizing dual six-port valves allowed for independent optimization of SPME desorption and injection variables that provided improved chromatographic resolution and sensitivity. A unique combination of cyano and octadecyl columns resulted in the complete separation of the 14 explosives in EPA method 8330 mixture using HPLC with good quantitative results. At the optimum SPME conditions, the limits of detection (LOD) were found to be of 5 ng/mL to 16 ng/mL of explosives in water and 10 μg/kg to 40 μg/kg of explosives from soil. The technique has been successfully applied to the analysis of real post-explosion debris and can be adapted for use in the field utilizing portable chromatographic instruments.

Optimization of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) for the recovery of explosives from aqueous and post-explosion debris followed by gas and liquid chromatographic analysis

The 1,3-dinitrobenzene-degrading Rhodococcus strain QT-1 was isolated under nitrogen limiting conditions from contaminated soil samples. Experimental data indicate that 1,3-dinitrobenzene is metabolized via 4-nitrocatechol. Both compounds were oxidized by resting cells and nitro groups were completely eliminated as nitrite. Strain QT-1 utilizes both 1,3-dinitrobenzene and 4-nitrocatechol as source of nitrogen in the absence as well as in the presence of high amounts of ammonia. Growth on 4-nitrocatechol does not induce the enzyme(s) for the initial oxidation of 1,3-dinitrobenzene.

Catabolism of 1,3-dinitrobenzene by Rhodococcus sp. QT-1.

Liquid chromatographic determination of nitroglycerin products in waste waters

Application of thin-layer chromatography for improving the continuous TNT process

Continuous TNT process studies

Continuous trinitrotoluene process studies : IV. Identification and determination of purification by products

Ammonium and magnesium sulfites were tested for purifying crude TNT in comparison with the conventional (“sellite”) process using sodium sulfite. The magnesium process easily gave an acceptable product in better yield, of higher quality, and at lower estimated cost. Magnesium values suitable for recycle were recovered from the waste water by calcination. The ammonium process gave an acceptable product only under specific reaction conditions, but the waste water can be recovered by mixing it with TNT process spent sulfuric acid, thereby eliminating a calcination step.

C.D. Chandler

Papers

Liquid chromatographic determination of nitroglycerin products in waste waters

Application of thin-layer chromatography for improving the continuous TNT process

Continuous TNT process studies

Continuous trinitrotoluene process studies : IV. Identification and determination of purification by products

New Procedures for Purifying TNT