Composition of Vapors Evolved from Military TNT as Influenced by Temperature,Solid Composition,Age,and Source.

摘要

A number of domestic and foreign military TNT samples were analyzed by a gas chromatographic headspace technique. The method allowed the determination of the vapor pressure of TNT and the partial pressures of several associated impurities over a 2 to 32 C temperature range. A major volatile impurity in all U.S. military TNT samples was 2-4-dinitrotoluene, which had a partial pressure 1 to 2 orders of magnitude higher than the vapor pressure of TNT. The experimental data followed a Clausius-Clapeyron temperature dependence for the vapor pressure of TNT, and the partial pressure of DNT was related to its concentration in the solid by a Henry' constant. Age and source of the TNT were found to have little or no influence on these relationships. The reasons for finding a relatively high DNT partial pressure are discussed, as is its implication for TNT detection by trace gas methods. (Author)