Table 8. Lowest level of visualization.
Lowest level
Visualizing
(g)
Compound
agent
Nitroaromatics: TNT
0.1
UV exposure
4/4
TiCl3 and DMACA
8/8
EDA : DMSO (1 : 1)
1/1
HPTLC*/UV exposure
4/4
HPTLC*/TiCl3 and DMACA
1/1
HPTLC*/EDA : DMSO (1 : 1)
3/3
Tetryl
0.01
TiCl3 and DMACA
1/1
0.05
EDA : DMSO (1 : 1)
1/1
HPTLC*/TiCl3 and DMACA
1/1
HPTLC*/EDA : DMSO (1 : 1)
2/2
TNB
0.1
UV exposure
4/4
TiCl3 and DMACA
8/8
HPTLC*/UV exposure
3/3
HPTLC*/EDA : DMSO (1 : 1)
2/2
4-A-DNT
0.1
UV exposure
1/1
TiCl3 and DMACA
1/1
2-A-DNT
0.1
UV exposure
3/3
TiCl3 and DMACA
1/1
2,4-DNT
0.1
UV exposure
3/4
TiCl3 and DMACA
6/6
HPTLC*/TiCl3 and DMACA
1/1
Nitramines: RDX
0.1
UV exposure
4/7
Griess and UV exposure
1/1
HPTLC*/UV exposure
8/8
HPTLC*/5% DPA and UV exposure
1/5
HMX
0.1
HPTLC*/UV exposure
3/3
0.2
Griess and UV exposure
2/2
Nitrate esters: PETN
0.2
HPTLC*/1% DPA and UV exposure
1/1
0.4
Griess and UV exposure
2/2
NG
0.2
HPTLC*/1% DPA and UV exposure
1/1
0.4
Griess and UV exposure
2/2
*High-performance thin-layer chromatography plates.
ible spot under UV light that corresponded to the
pink spot appeared after spraying the plate with
same Rf value as the spot from a standard solu-
Griess reagent and exposing the plate under UV
tion of TNT. A soil sample from Hawthorne Am-
light for 30 minutes. When the Rf value for the
spot from the DREV sample was compared to the
munition Plant containing an array of explosives,
including HMX (2.4 mg/g), RDX (8.1 mg/g), TNB
Rf values of the standard RDX, HMX, PETN, and
(0.088 mg/g), DNB (0.002 mg/g), TNT (13.9 mg/
NG, it corresponded to HMX, and the identity was
g), and 2,4-DNT (0.007 mg/g), was extracted.
confirmed by standard HPLC methods. In most
When 1 L of the extract was spotted and devel-
cases, soil samples collected from the field con-
tained a high concentration of TNT with very low
oped, two spots that corresponded to TNT and
levels of other nitroaromatics. When soil extracts
RDX were visible under UV light. Soil collected
from these samples were spotted, because of the
from DREV had tested positive for RDX using the
high TNT concentration, other nitroaromatics
RDX field screening kit (Walsh and Jenkins 1991),
could not clearly be identified. To determine the
but the explosive most commonly used in that area
was HMX. When 10 L of the DREV soil extract
effectiveness of the TLC method in separating
was spotted and developed using the solvent sys-
nitroaromatic compounds in extracts from field
tem of petroleum ether : acetone (1 : 1), a single
samples, soil from Savanna Army Depot, which
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