THE APPLICATION OF SINGLE PARTICLE AEROSOL MASS SPECTROMETRY FOR THE DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF HIGH EXPLOSIVES AND CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS Page: 4 of 112

                                
ABSTRACT
THE APPLICATION OF SINGLE PARTICLE AEROSOL MASS
SPECTROMETRY FOR THE DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF HIGH
EXPLOSIVES AND CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS
By
Audrey Noreen Martin
Single Particle Aerosol Mass Spectrometry (SPAMS) was evaluated as a real-time
detection technique for single particles of high explosives. Dual-polarity time-of-flight
mass spectra were obtained for samples of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5-trinitro-
1,3,5-triazinane (RDX), and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN); peaks indicative of each
compound were identified. Composite explosives, Comp B, Semtex lA, and Semtex 1H
were also analyzed, and peaks due to the explosive components of each sample were
present in each spectrum. Mass spectral variability with laser fluence is discussed. The
ability of the SPAMS system to identify explosive components in a single complex
explosive particle (~1 pg) without the need for consumables is demonstrated.
SPAMS was also applied to the detection of Chemical Warfare Agent (CWA)
simulants in the liquid and vapor phases. Liquid simulants for sarin, cyclosarin, tabun,
and VX were analyzed; peaks indicative of each simulant were identified. Vapor phase
CWA simulants were adsorbed onto alumina, silica, Zeolite, activated carbon, and metal
powders which were directly analyzed using SPAMS. The use of metal powders as
adsorbent materials was especially useful in the analysis of triethyl phosphate (TEP), a
VX stimulant, which was undetectable using SPAMS in the liquid phase. The capability
of SPAMS to detect high explosives and CWA simulants using one set of operational
conditions is established.