Chemical attribution of the home-made explosive ETN – Part I: Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of partially nitrated erythritol impurities
| Autor: | Chris-Jan Kuijpers, James L. Smith, Karlijn D.B. Bezemer, Arian C. van Asten, Jos van den Elshout, Alexander Yevdokimov, Peter J. Schoenmakers, Antoine E. D. M. van der Heijden, Jimmie C. Oxley, Mattijs Koeberg, Taylor Busby, Lara V.A. van Duin, Lindsay McLennan |
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| Přispěvatelé: | Supramolecular Separations (HIMS, FNWI) |
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
Explosive material
Chemical structure Inorganic chemistry Erythritol Chemical parameters Mass spectrometry 01 natural sciences Article Catalysis Pathology and Forensic Medicine Nitric acid derivative 03 medical and health sciences chemistry.chemical_compound Attribution Synthesis 0302 clinical medicine Chemical profiling Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry Impurity Acid Erythritol tetranitrate Chemical analysis 030216 legal & forensic medicine Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry Priority journal 010401 analytical chemistry Forensic identification 0104 chemical sciences LC-MS ETN chemistry Explosives Forensic science Crystallization Prediction Law Food quality |
| Zdroj: | Forensic Science International, 307 Forensic Science International, 307:110102. Elsevier |
| ISSN: | 0379-0738 |
| Popis: | Erythritol tetranitrate (ETN) was prepared independently by two research groups from the USA and the Netherlands. The partially nitrated impurities present in ETN were studied using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to address the ultimate challenge in forensic explosives investigations, i.e., providing chemical and tactical information on the production and origin of the explosive material found at a crime scene. Accurate quantification of the tri-nitrated byproduct erythritol trinitrate (ETriN) was achieved by in-lab production of an ETriN standard and using custom-made standards of the two isomers of ETriN (1,2,3-ETriN and 1,2,4-ETriN). Large differences in levels of ETriN were observed between the two sample sets showing that, even when similar synthesis routes are employed, batches from different production locations can contain different impurity profiles. In one of the sample sets the ratios of the lesser partially nitrated impurities, EDiN and EMN, in the ETN samples could be determined. The impurity profiles enable prediction of post-synthesis work-up steps by reduction of the level of partially nitrated products upon recrystallization. However, impurity analysis does not enable predictions with respect to raw material or synthesis route used. Nonetheless, characteristic impurity profiles obtained can be used in forensic casework to differentiate or link ETN samples. However, forensic interpretation can be complicated by acid catalyzed degradation which can cause changes in impurity levels over time. The high food-grade quality of the erythritol precursor materials did not provide other impurity markers using the LC-MS methods in this study. To expand our framework of chemical attribution a follow-up study will be reported that focuses on stable isotope analysis of ETN and its precursor materials that potentially allow predictions for forensic explosives intelligence. © 2019 Elsevier B.V. Chemicals / CAS erythritol, 149-32-6, 7541-59-5; erythrityl tetranitrate, 7297-25-8 |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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