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Analytical Characterization of Erythritol Tetranitrate, an Improvised Explosive
Author(s) -
Matyáš Robert,
Lyčka Antonín,
Jirásko Robert,
Jakový Zdeněk,
Maixner Jaroslav,
Mišková Linda,
Künzel Martin
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.13078
Subject(s) - explosive material , pentaerythritol tetranitrate , erythritol , characterization (materials science) , analytical chemistry (journal) , mass spectrometry , materials science , electrospray ionization , chemistry , chromatography , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , food science
Erythritol tetranitrate ( ETN ), an ester of nitric acid and erythritol, is a solid crystalline explosive with high explosive performance. Although it has never been used in any industrial or military application, it has become one of the most prepared and misused improvise explosives. In this study, several analytical techniques were explored to facilitate analysis in forensic laboratories. FTIR and Raman spectrometry measurements expand existing data and bring more detailed assignment of bands through the parallel study of erythritol [ 15 N 4 ] tetranitrate. In the case of powder diffraction, recently published data were verified, and 1 H, 13 C, and 15 N NMR spectra are discussed in detail. The technique of electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was successfully used for the analysis of ETN . Described methods allow fast, versatile, and reliable detection or analysis of samples containing erythritol tetranitrate in forensic laboratories.