title: Novel CE-MS technique for detection of high explosives using perfluorooctanoic acid as a MEKC and mass spectrometric complexation reagent.
abstract: To address the need for the forensic analysis of high explosives, a novel capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry (CE-MS) technique has been developed for high resolution, sensitivity, and mass accuracy detection of these compounds. The technique uses perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as both a micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) reagent for separation of neutral explosives and as the complexation reagent for mass spectrometric detection of PFOA-explosive complexes in the negative ion mode. High explosives that formed complexes with PFOA included RDX, HMX, tetryl, and PETN. Some nitroaromatics were detected as molecular ions. Detection limits in the high parts per billion range and linear calibration responses over two orders of magnitude were obtained. For proof of concept, the technique was applied to the quantitative analysis of high explosives in sand samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States. Electronic address: kbrensinger@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brensinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States. Electronic address: Rollmanc@gwu.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rollman
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, United States. Electronic address: ccopper@usna.edu.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Copper
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, United States. Electronic address: m152502@usna.edu.
authors.forename: Ashton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Genzman
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, United States. Electronic address: m155820@usna.edu.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rine
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States. Electronic address: ISLurie@gwu.ed.
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lurie
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States. Electronic address: moinim@gwu.edu.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moini
keywords: CE–MS; High explosives; MEKC; Perfluorooctanoic acid complexation reagent; Sand analysis