Detection and analysis of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) in environmental samples by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Journal of Raman Spectroscopy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/jrs.2574· OSTI ID:1015739

Hatab, Nahla A ^[1]; Gu, Baohua ^[2]; Eres, Gyula ^[2]; Hatzinger, Paul B ^[3]

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1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
2. ORNL
3. Shaw Environmental, Inc., Lawrenceville, NJ

Techniques for rapid and sensitive detection of energetics such as cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) are needed both for environmental and security screening applications. Here we report the use of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy to detect traces of RDX with good sensitivity and reproducibility. Using gold (Au) nanoparticles ( 90 100 nm in diameter) as SERS substrates, RDX was detectable at concentrations as low as 0.15 mg/l in a contaminated groundwater sample. This detection limit is about two orders of magnitude lower than those reported previously using SERS techniques. A surface enhancement factor of 6 104 was obtained. This research further demonstrates the potential for using SERS as a rapid, in situ field screening tool for energetics detection when coupled with a portable Raman spectrometer.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); Oak Ridge National Environmental Research Park
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1015739
• Journal Information: Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, Journal Name: Journal of Raman Spectroscopy Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 41; ISSN 0377-0486
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DETECTION
GOLD
RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY
RDX
SCATTERING
SECURITY
SENSITIVITY
SERS detection
SPECTROSCOPY
SUBSTRATES
explosives
gold nanoparticles
groundwater