title: Analysis of pellets found in the north area of the Asiago plateau (Vicenza, Italy), a locality of the 1914-1918 World War.
abstract: Pellets of unknown material contained in an aluminium cylinder were found in the north area of the Asiago plateau (Vicenza), a locality of the First World War (1914-1918). Elemental analysis, infrared, chromatography and NMR experiments indicate that the main product is pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN). This substance was probably an igniting primer used by Austro-Hungarian (A.U.) military engineering. Hypothesis of medical use of the pellets can be disregarded while it seems improbable the use of this explosive by German Army during the Second War World.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica Fisica, Università Ca' Foscari di Venezia, Calle Larga S. Marta 2137, 30123 Venezia, Italy. gian.antonio.mazzocchin@unive.it
authors.forename: Gian Antonio
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Mazzocchin
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lucchini
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bragato
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rudello
mesh_terms: D004343:Drug Implants / Q000032:analysis / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D007558:Italy; D010417:Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate / Q000032:analysis* / Q000266:history; D047828:World War I
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D010417:Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate