About impurities in cyclotrhylmethylentrinitramine and the possibility of detecting its vapor

摘要

Cyclotrhylmethylentrinitramine (RDX) is one of the most dangerous explosive substances. The presence of impurities in this explosive may be important for its determination as residual traces at the scene of incidents, as well as in the quick analysis of passengers and luggage by ion mobility spectrometers. In the work industrially manufactured RDX samples, that were not undergone any purification, were investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method. The attention was paid to search precursors and possible technological admixtures. On the basis of received chromatograms and mass spectra it was established the presence in the analyzed RDX samples of urotropin, acetic anhydride, acetic acid, triazine and octogen. The mass content of the substances was estimated. Special attention was paid to the products of RDX biodegradation, which can occur both in aerobic and anaerobic environments during its storage. The quantitative content of RDX biodegradation products in samples under study was estimated. Sorption of chemically pure and industrially manufactured RDX vapors on a concentrator from metal meshes were carried out. By the method of thermodesorption mass spectrometry the composition and differences of the concentrated samples were analyzed. Recommendations for taking into account the results obtained when working with vapors and traces of RDX by ion mobility spectrometers were given.