Table 1. Analytical methods for commonly occurring explosives, propellants, and impurities/
degradation products.
Field
Laboratory
Acronym
Compound name
method
method
TNT
2,4,6-trinitrotoluene
Cp, Ip
N
TNB
1,3,5-trinitrobenzene
Cs, Is
N
DNB
1,3-dinitrobenzene
Cs
N
2,4-DNT
2,4-dinitrotoluene
Cp, Cs
N
2,6-DNT
2,6-dinitrotoluene
Cs, Is
N
Tetryl
Methyl-2,4,6-trinitrophenylnitramine
Cs
N
2-AmDNT
2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene
N
4-AmDNT
4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene
Is
N
NT
Nitrotoluene (3 isomers)
N
NB
Nitrobenzene
N
Cs
N
Nitramines
RDX
Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine
Cp, Ip
N
HMX
Octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine
Cs
N
NQ
Nitroguanidine
Cs
G
Cs
Nitrate esters
NC
Nitrocellulose
Cs
*L
NG
Nitroglycerin
Cs
*P
PETN
Pentaerythritol tetranitrate
Cs
*P
Ammonium picrate/picric acid
AP/PA
Ammonium 2,4,6-trinitrophenoxide/2,4,6-trinitrophenol
Cp, Is
A
Cp
=
Colorimetric field method, primary target analyte(s).
Cs
=
Colorimetric field method, secondary target analyte(s).
Ip
=
Immunoassay field method, primary target analyte(s).
Is
=
Immunoassay field method, secondary target analyte(s).
N
=
EPA SW-846, Nitroaromatics and Nitramines by HPLC, Method 8330 (EPA 1995a).
P
=
PETN and NG (Walsh unpublished CRREL method).
G
=
Nitroguanidine (Walsh 1989).
L
=
Nitrocellulose (Walsh unpublished CRREL method).
A
=
Ammonium picrate/picric acid (Thorne and Jenkins 1995a).
*The performance of a number of field methods has not been assessed utilizing "approved" laboratory methods. It is recommended
that verification of the performance of any analytical method be an integral part of a sampling/analysis projects quality assurance
program.
els of soil and groundwater contamination,
Method 8330. Picrate is a hydrolysis trans-
although on-site waste disposal was discon-
formation product of tetryl, and is expected in
tinued 20 to 50 years ago. Under ambient envi-
environmental samples contaminated with tetryl.
ronmental conditions, explosives are highly per-
Site investigations indicate that TNT is the least
sistent in soils and groundwater, exhibiting a
mobile of the explosives and most frequently oc-
resistance to naturally occurring volatilization, bio-
curring soil contamination problem. RDX and
degradation, and hydrolysis. Where biodegrada-
HMX are the most mobile explosives and present
tion of TNT occurs, 2-AmDNT and 4-AmDNT are
the largest groundwater contamination problem.
the most commonly identified transformation
TNB, DNTs, and tetryl are of intermediate mobil-
products. Photochemical decomposition of TNT
ity and frequently occur as co-contaminants in soil
to TNB occurs in the presence of sunlight and
and groundwater. Metals are co-contaminants at
water, with TNB being generally resistant to fur-
facilities where munitions compounds were
ther photodegradation. TNB is subject to biotrans-
handled, particularly at OB/OD sites. Field ana-
formation to 3,5-dinitroaniline, which has been rec-
lytical procedures for metals, such as x-ray fluo-
ommended as an additional target analyte in EPA
rescence, may be useful in screening soils for
2
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