Accession Number:

ADA621999

Title:

Saturation Transfer Difference NMR as an Analytical Tool for Detection and Differentiation of Plastic Explosives on the Basis of Minor Plasticizer Composition

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. Mar 2010-Dec 2011

Corporate Author:

ARMY EDGEWOOD CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL CENTER APG MD RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DIR

Personal Author(s):

• Gitti, Rossitza K.
• Ostazeski, Stanley A.

Report Date:

2015-05-01

Pagination or Media Count:

28.0

Abstract:

A novel, analytical saturation transfer difference STD NMR methodology has been developed to support the unambiguous identification and discrimination of Semtex and C-4 plastic explosive mixtures in complex matrixes on the basis of plasticizer composition. The approach is based on the ability of the STD NMR to completely eliminate all interfering NMR signals. Virtually extracting the proton spectrum of the plasticizers only using their characteristic binding to serum albumin protein enables the unambiguous structural identification. The results demonstrated that the observed STD chemical shifts of the plasticizers can be used as a reliable diagnostic target for the presence of the corresponding explosive mixture in complex matrices. The viability of the method was illustrated using control samples of commercially available plasticizers found in Semtex and C-4 explosive mixtures, either alone pure or in the presence of soil. Our novel approach was then successfully applied for the analysis of unknown explosive samples that had been sent to our laboratory for full characterization and explosive identification.

Descriptors:

• *EXPLOSIVES DETECTION
• *NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
• *PLASTICIZERS
• CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
• MIXTURES
• PLASTIC EXPLOSIVES
• SPECTROSCOPY

Subject Categories:

• Plastics
• Miscellaneous Detection and Detectors
• Atomic and Molecular Physics and Spectroscopy

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE