Accession Number:
ADA183738
Title:
Development of an Analytical Method for Explosive Residues in Soil,
Descriptive Note:
Corporate Author:
COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB HANOVER NH
Report Date:
1987-06-01
Pagination or Media Count:
61.0
Abstract:
An analytical method was developed to determine the concentrations of HMX, RDX, TNB, DNB, Tetryl, TNT and 2,4-DNT in soil. The method involves extracting a 2-g sample with 50 mL of acetonitrile using an ultrasonic bath procedure for 18 hr. A 10-mL portion of the extract is diluted with 10 mL of water, filtered through a 0.45-micrometer Millex SR filter, and analyzed by RP-HPLC using a fixed 254-nm UV detector. Separations were obtained on an LC-18 column eluted with 5050 water-methanol. Retention times were 2.55, 3.82, 5.16, 6.25, 7.04, 8.47 and 10.15 min for HMX, RDX, TNB, DNB, Tetryl, TNT and 2,4-DNT, respectively. Confirmation of analyte identities is recommended by RP-HPLC on an LC-CN column using 5050 water-methanol. Kinetic studies using naturally contaminated soil indicated that equilibrium was achieved within 24 hr for the majority of soils and analytes studied. The method provides linear calibration curves over a wide range of concentrations. Reporting limits were conservatively estimated at 1.6, 1.8, 1.5, 0.5, 5.5, 0.8 and 0.8 micro gramsg for HMX, RDX, TNB, DNB, Tetryl, TNT and 2,4-DNT. Analytical precision was estimated at or - 0.44, 0.51, 0.43, 0.13, 1.24, 0.27 and 0.20 micro gramsg, respectively, in the range of homogeneous variance near the detection limits. At higher concentrations the relative standard deviation was constant at 2 for HMX, RDX, DNB and TNB, 3 for TNT and 2,4-DNT, and 6 for Tetryl.
Distribution Statement:
APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
