Analysis of environmental samples for explosives and explosives degradation products by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
- Geological Survey, Arvada, CO (United States). National Water Quality Lab.
Nitroaromatic explosives and their degradation products are regulated water-soluble contaminants that may pose a hazard to human health and could be important water contaminants. The reliable identification of most explosives, in particular, the identification of degradation products, is a major shortcoming in most analytical methods. As an improvement, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (coupled to Thermospray) mass spectrometry was used to determine compound molecular weights, and tandem-mass spectrometry was applied to confirm molecular structure. Compounds were separated isocratically using methanol-water with an octadecylsilane HPLC column. The identities of known nitroaromatic explosives were confirmed by combined ultraviolet absorbance and negative ion mass spectra. For optimal detection of known compounds, selected ion monitoring mass spectrometry was used. Calibration curves fit quadratic models, with correlation coefficients typically exceeding 0.995 over two orders of magnitude. Instrument detection limits ranged from 2.5 to 10 nanograms per injection, resulting in method-detection limits from about 100 to 400 nanograms per liter for a typical water sample. Unknown analytes (indicated by optical spectra) were identified by full scan and tandem mass spectrometry experiments on sample extracts or isolated extract fractions. This combined ultraviolet-diode array mass spectrometric approach is a superior method for analyzing soil or water samples where known explosives and unknown degradation products might be present.
- OSTI ID:
- 49453
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9410273-; TRN: IM9523%%276
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 15. annual meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), Denver, CO (United States), 30 Oct - 3 Nov 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 15th annual meeting: Abstract book. Ecological risk: Science, policy, law, and perception; PB: 286 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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