skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: On-site method for measuring nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives in soil and groundwater using GC-NPD: Feasibility study. Special report

Abstract

An on-site method has been developed for estimating concentrations of TNT, RDX, 2,4-DNT, and the two most commonly encountered environmental transformation products of TNT, 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene and 4-amino-2,6- dinitrotoluene, in soil and groundwater using gas chromatography and the nitrogen-phosphorus detector (NPD). Soil samples (20 g) are extracted by shaking with 20 mL of acetone, and extracts are filtered through a Millex SR (0.5- micrometers) filter. Groundwater samples (1 L) were passed through SDB-RPS extraction disks that were subsequently extracted with 5 mL of acetone. A 1- micro-L volume of a soil or water extract is manually injected into a field- transportable gas chromatograph equipped with a NPD and a heated injection port. Separations are conducted on a Restek Crossbond 100% dimethyl polysiloxane column, 6 m x 0.53-mm i.d., 1.5 mm, using nitrogen carrier gas at 9.5 mL/min. Retention times range from 3.0 min. for 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) to 5.6 min. for 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene. Method detection limits were less than 0.16 mg/ kg for soil and less than 1.0 microgram/L for groundwater. One of the major advantages of this method, over currently available colorimetric and enzyme immunoassay on-site methods, is the ability to quantify individual target analytes that often coexist in soils and groundwatermore » contaminated with explosive residues. This method will be particularly useful at military antitank firing ranges where it is necessary to quantify residual concentrations of RDX in the presence of high concentrations of HMX, and when the transformation products of TNT need to be identified.« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Cold Regions Research and Engineering Lab., Hanover, NH (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
698777
Report Number(s):
AD-A-367069/XAB; CRREL-SR-99-9
TRN: 92850324
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Aug 1999
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE; EXPLOSIVES; GROUND WATER; TNT; SOILS; SAMPLING; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY; MONITORS; PORTABLE EQUIPMENT; FEASIBILITY STUDIES

Citation Formats

Hewitt, A D, and Jenkins, T F. On-site method for measuring nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives in soil and groundwater using GC-NPD: Feasibility study. Special report. United States: N. p., 1999. Web.
Hewitt, A D, & Jenkins, T F. On-site method for measuring nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives in soil and groundwater using GC-NPD: Feasibility study. Special report. United States.
Hewitt, A D, and Jenkins, T F. 1999. "On-site method for measuring nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives in soil and groundwater using GC-NPD: Feasibility study. Special report". United States.
@article{osti_698777,
title = {On-site method for measuring nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives in soil and groundwater using GC-NPD: Feasibility study. Special report},
author = {Hewitt, A D and Jenkins, T F},
abstractNote = {An on-site method has been developed for estimating concentrations of TNT, RDX, 2,4-DNT, and the two most commonly encountered environmental transformation products of TNT, 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene and 4-amino-2,6- dinitrotoluene, in soil and groundwater using gas chromatography and the nitrogen-phosphorus detector (NPD). Soil samples (20 g) are extracted by shaking with 20 mL of acetone, and extracts are filtered through a Millex SR (0.5- micrometers) filter. Groundwater samples (1 L) were passed through SDB-RPS extraction disks that were subsequently extracted with 5 mL of acetone. A 1- micro-L volume of a soil or water extract is manually injected into a field- transportable gas chromatograph equipped with a NPD and a heated injection port. Separations are conducted on a Restek Crossbond 100% dimethyl polysiloxane column, 6 m x 0.53-mm i.d., 1.5 mm, using nitrogen carrier gas at 9.5 mL/min. Retention times range from 3.0 min. for 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) to 5.6 min. for 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene. Method detection limits were less than 0.16 mg/ kg for soil and less than 1.0 microgram/L for groundwater. One of the major advantages of this method, over currently available colorimetric and enzyme immunoassay on-site methods, is the ability to quantify individual target analytes that often coexist in soils and groundwater contaminated with explosive residues. This method will be particularly useful at military antitank firing ranges where it is necessary to quantify residual concentrations of RDX in the presence of high concentrations of HMX, and when the transformation products of TNT need to be identified.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/698777}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1999},
month = {Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1999}
}

Technical Report:
Other availability
Please see Document Availability for additional information on obtaining the full-text document. Library patrons may search WorldCat to identify libraries that may hold this item. Keep in mind that many technical reports are not cataloged in WorldCat.

Save / Share: