Forensic analysis of explosives from water samples using solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography

The forensic identification of bulk explosive and postexplosion residues is important in bombing investigation. The information can be used to determine the type of explosive, to link the suspect to the bombing case and ultimately to provide evidence in court. Many analytical techniques have been ap...

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Main Author: Kiu, Kee Heng
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2006
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eprints.utm.my/4792/
http://eprints.utm.my/4792/1/KiuKeeHengMFS2006.pdf
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author Kiu, Kee Heng
author_facet Kiu, Kee Heng
author_sort Kiu, Kee Heng
building UTeM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The forensic identification of bulk explosive and postexplosion residues is important in bombing investigation. The information can be used to determine the type of explosive, to link the suspect to the bombing case and ultimately to provide evidence in court. Many analytical techniques have been applied to the identification of explosives and explosive residues. In this study, a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique followed by gas chromatography (GC) was used to determine the explosive residues. Gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD) is very sensitive towards post-blast residues and therefore useful for the determination of explosive molecules. Several parameters including adsorption time, desorption time and temperature, SPME fiber types, stirring effect and salting out effect were optimized to obtain reproducible data with good accuracy. Addition of 10 % w/v of NaCl in the aqueous medium and use of a Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS) coating fiber led to optimal extraction efficiencies. LOD of studied explosive compounds for the optimized SPME method was quite low (0.02-0.10 ppm) except for PETN (0.67 ppm). SPME/GC-ECD was optimized and applied to the trace analysis of explosive residues in real pond water and water sample from collection trays. 2,6-DNT, TNT and PETN were successfully detected from water samples. For some sampling points, TNT and PETN were not detected due to the amount of explosives used and low concentration of the explosives in water samples. Direct Immersion SPME/GC-ECD was found to be applicable for qualitative and quantitative analysis of explosives in post blast water samples.
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spelling utm-47922018-10-14T07:19:37Z http://eprints.utm.my/4792/ Forensic analysis of explosives from water samples using solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography Kiu, Kee Heng QD Chemistry The forensic identification of bulk explosive and postexplosion residues is important in bombing investigation. The information can be used to determine the type of explosive, to link the suspect to the bombing case and ultimately to provide evidence in court. Many analytical techniques have been applied to the identification of explosives and explosive residues. In this study, a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique followed by gas chromatography (GC) was used to determine the explosive residues. Gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD) is very sensitive towards post-blast residues and therefore useful for the determination of explosive molecules. Several parameters including adsorption time, desorption time and temperature, SPME fiber types, stirring effect and salting out effect were optimized to obtain reproducible data with good accuracy. Addition of 10 % w/v of NaCl in the aqueous medium and use of a Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS) coating fiber led to optimal extraction efficiencies. LOD of studied explosive compounds for the optimized SPME method was quite low (0.02-0.10 ppm) except for PETN (0.67 ppm). SPME/GC-ECD was optimized and applied to the trace analysis of explosive residues in real pond water and water sample from collection trays. 2,6-DNT, TNT and PETN were successfully detected from water samples. For some sampling points, TNT and PETN were not detected due to the amount of explosives used and low concentration of the explosives in water samples. Direct Immersion SPME/GC-ECD was found to be applicable for qualitative and quantitative analysis of explosives in post blast water samples. 2006-10 Thesis NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en http://eprints.utm.my/4792/1/KiuKeeHengMFS2006.pdf Kiu, Kee Heng (2006) Forensic analysis of explosives from water samples using solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography. Masters thesis, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Faculty of Science. http://dms.library.utm.my:8080/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:61535
spellingShingle QD Chemistry
Kiu, Kee Heng
Forensic analysis of explosives from water samples using solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography
title Forensic analysis of explosives from water samples using solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography
title_full Forensic analysis of explosives from water samples using solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography
title_fullStr Forensic analysis of explosives from water samples using solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography
title_full_unstemmed Forensic analysis of explosives from water samples using solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography
title_short Forensic analysis of explosives from water samples using solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography
title_sort forensic analysis of explosives from water samples using solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography
topic QD Chemistry
url http://eprints.utm.my/4792/
http://eprints.utm.my/4792/
http://eprints.utm.my/4792/1/KiuKeeHengMFS2006.pdf