The analysis of black powder substitutes containing ascorbic acid by Ion Chromatography⁄Mass spectrometry
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Gui-hua Lisa Lang [1] ; Katherine M. Boyle [1]
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[1] Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Forensic ScienceLaboratory
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- Localización: Journal of forensic sciences, ISSN-e 1556-4029, ISSN 0022-1198, Vol. 54, Nº. 6, 2009, págs. 1315-1322
- Idioma: inglés
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Resumen
Black powder substitutes containing ascorbic acid are a group of low explosives that utilize ascorbic acid as the fuel. The analysisof these powders is complicated by the degradation of ascorbic acid which occurs rapidly in solution and may also occur as the powder ages. Aque-ous extracts of both intact powders and postblast residues were analyzed by an existing ion chromatography ⁄ mass spectrometry (IC ⁄ MS) methodused at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Results have shown that while ascorbic acid itself is not detected in this method,its diagnostic degradation products (threonic acid, monohydrated diketogulonic acid, and oxalic acid) can be identified. In addition, anions fromthe inorganic oxidizers (perchlorate and nitrate) and combustion products such as chloride, chlorate, and nitrite, can be identified within the sameexperiment. While this IC ⁄ MS method shows promise, future modifications are necessary because of limitations in identifying threonate in postblastresidues, as well as coeluting compounds observed in postblast residues
