Uptake of Nitroaromatic Compounds by Polymeric Tubing
- Sandia National Laboratories
The type of polymeric material used in the manufacturing of tubing determines its strength, elasticity, and durability. Tubing made of polymeric material is commonly used for analytical work because it is readily available, inexpensive and can be relatively inert. Polymeric tubing is used in many sampling applications for explosive compounds. A major concern is the uptake of the explosive compounds into or onto the tubing during sampling. Because of the reactive nature of explosives, it is important that as little of the detectable explosive as possible is lost by tubing uptake. It is also important that nothing leaches out of the tubing to interfere with the detection of explosives. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is commonly used for the analysis of trace levels of explosive compounds in the range of parts per billion (ppb) to parts per million (ppm). This study attempts to determine which types of polymers are most conducive to sampling applications where large volumes of dilute explosive solutions are collected through a length of tubing for analysis. This was determined by analyzing the amount of explosive lost from solution per cm{sup 2} of tubing in solution. It was determined that tubing made of polyethylene, teflon, polypropylene, or KYNAR{reg_sign} is recommended for dilute trinitrotoluene (TNT) solution analyses. Tubing made of polypropylene, PHARMED{reg_sign}, KYNAR{reg_sign}, or polyethylene is recommended for analyses involving dilute explosive solutions of RDX. Tubing made from polyurethane, TYGON{reg_sign}, nylon, vinyl, gum rubber, or reinforced PVC are not recommended because they leach contaminants into solution that may interfere with HPLC analysis of explosive peaks.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (US); Sandia National Labs., Livermore, CA (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 780320
- Report Number(s):
- SAND2001-1055
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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