title: Study of losses of volatile compounds from dynamites. Investigation of cross-contamination between dynamites stored in polyethylene bags.
abstract: The purpose of this work was to study the appropriateness of polyethylene bags for the preservation of explosive specimens. To this end, specimens of two types of dynamites, Goma-2 EC, containing nitroglycol (EGDN) and dinitrotoluene (DNT), and Goma-2 ECO, containing only EGDN, were placed individually inside bags and introduced into hermetically sealed glass jars, which were stored for a period of time. Losses of volatile compounds were studied by headspace analysis using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The cross-contamination between dynamites was studied by using high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) to analyse the extracts obtained after a sequential solvent extraction of these specimens. Polyethylene bags permit the loss of volatile compounds since EGDN and DNT were detected in the headspaces of the jars. Moreover, cross-contamination between dynamites was also demonstrated since DNT content decreased in the dynamite containing this compound and increased in the dynamite that had not contained it.
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Research in Police Sciences (IUICP), Planta Piloto de Química Fina, University of Alcalá, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona Km. 33.600, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sáiz
authors.forename: José-Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ferrando
authors.forename: Juan-Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Atoche
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torre
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: García-Ruiz