1
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Forbes TP, Robinson EL, Sisco E, Koss A. In-Line Thermal Desorption and Dielectric Barrier Discharge Ionization for Rapid Mass Spectrometry Detection of Explosives. Anal Chem 2024; 96:13352-13357. [PMID: 39103237 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c02974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Thermal desorption (TD) of wipe-based samples was coupled with an in-line dielectric barrier discharge ionization (DBDI) source and rugged compact time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MS) for the detection of explosives, propellants, and postblast debris. The chromatography-free TD-DBDI-MS platform enabled rapid and sensitive detection of organic nitramine, nitrate ester, and nitroaromatic explosives as well as black powder and black powder substitute propellants. Parametric investigations characterized the response to TD temperature and optimized DBDI voltage, aerodynamically assisted entrainment, and fragmentation through in-source collision induced dissociation (isCID). Excess nitrate generated by the DBDI source yielded predominantly nitrate-adduct formation. Subnanogram sensitivities were demonstrated for all explosives investigated, except for nitroglycerin, specifically due to its volatility. Further, most analytes/explosives exhibited tens of picograms sensitivities. The platform also demonstrated the detection of propellant and military explosives from postblast debris. The TD-DBDI-MS system performed well without the need for aerodynamically assisted entrainment (and the associated rough pump), which along with requiring no additional gases (i.e., N2 or He) or solvents, aid in potential field deployment. The ease of TD-DBDI attachment and removal added trace solid or liquid residue detection to the rugged mass spectrometer, designed primarily for the analysis of volatile organic and inorganic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas P Forbes
- Materials Measurement Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Elizabeth L Robinson
- Materials Measurement Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Edward Sisco
- Materials Measurement Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Abigail Koss
- TOFWERK USA, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
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2
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Hong H, Habib A, Bi L, Qais DS, Wen L. Hollow Cathode Discharge Ionization Mass Spectrometry: Detection, Quantification and Gas Phase Ion-Molecule Reactions of Explosives and Related Compounds. Crit Rev Anal Chem 2024; 54:148-174. [PMID: 35467991 DOI: 10.1080/10408347.2022.2067467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Mass spectrometry (MS) has become an essential analytical method in every sector of science and technology. Because of its unique ability to provide direct molecular structure information on analytes, an extra method is rarely required. This review describes fabrication of a variable-pressure hollow cathode discharge (HCD) ion source for MS in detection, quantification and investigation of gas-phase ion molecule reactions of explosives and related compounds using air as a carrier gas. The HCD ion source has been designed in such a way that by altering the ion source pressures, the system can generate both HCD and conventional GD. This design enables for the selective detection and quantification of explosives at trace to ultra-trace levels. The pressure-dependent HCD ion source has also been used to investigate ion-molecule reactions in the gas phase of explosives and related compounds. The mechanism of ion formation in explosive reactions is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanhuan Hong
- The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- China Innovation Instrument Co., Ltd, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ahsan Habib
- The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Lei Bi
- The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- China Innovation Instrument Co., Ltd, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | | | - Luhong Wen
- The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- China Innovation Instrument Co., Ltd, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
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3
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Henderson A, Heaney LM, Rankin-Turner S. Ambient ionisation mass spectrometry for drug and toxin analysis: A review of the recent literature. Drug Test Anal 2024. [PMID: 38326879 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Ambient ionisation mass spectrometry (AIMS) is a form of mass spectrometry whereby analyte ionisation occurs outside of a vacuum source under ambient conditions. This enables the direct analysis of samples in their native state, with little or no sample preparation and without chromatographic separation. The removal of these steps facilitates a much faster analytical process, enabling the direct analysis of samples within minutes if not seconds. Consequently, AIMS has gained rapid popularity across a diverse range of applications, in particular the analysis of drugs and toxins. Numerous fields rely upon mass spectrometry for the detection and identification of drugs, including clinical diagnostics, forensic chemistry, and food safety. However, all of these fields are hindered by the time-consuming and laboratory-confined nature of traditional techniques. As such, the potential for AIMS to resolve these challenges has resulted in a growing interest in ambient ionisation for drug and toxin analysis. Since the early 2000s, forensic science, diagnostic testing, anti-doping, pharmaceuticals, environmental analysis and food safety have all seen a marked increase in AIMS applications, foreshadowing a new future for drug testing. In this review, some of the most promising AIMS techniques for drug analysis will be discussed, alongside different applications of AIMS published over a 5-year period, to provide a summary of the recent research activity for ambient ionisation for drug and toxin analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisha Henderson
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - Liam M Heaney
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - Stephanie Rankin-Turner
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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4
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Gao Y, Chu F, Chen W, Wang X, Pan Y. Arc-Induced Nitrate Reagent Ion for Analysis of Trace Explosives on Surfaces Using Atmospheric Pressure Arc Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2022; 94:5463-5468. [PMID: 35357149 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c05650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This study presents the rapid surface detection of explosives by employing atmospheric pressure arc desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (APADI-MS) using point-to-plane arc discharge. In APADI, neutral explosives readily bind to the gas-phase nitrate ion, NO3-, induced by arc discharge to form anionic adducts [M+NO3]-. This avoids the need for inorganic anionic additives such as NO3-, NO2-, Cl-, acetate, and trifluoroacetate for unique explosive ionization pathways and simplifies mass spectra. The analytical performance of APADI was thoroughly evaluated for the rapid detection of 10 explosives at levels in the range of 800 fg-1 μg. Arc-induced nitrogen oxide anions promoted the formation of characteristic adducts, such as [M+NO3]-, and improved the instrument response for all the explosives tested. APADI showed considerable sensitivity in the negative ion mode with limits of detection in the low picogram range, particularly when explosives were analyzed on a copper or aluminum foil substrate. APADI coupled with an Orbitrap mass spectrometer displayed a good linear response for the studied explosives. The linearity and intraday and interday precisions were evaluated, demonstrating the feasibility and robustness of APADI-MS for the detection of trace explosives on solid surfaces. The mechanisms of APADI for explosive ionization and desorption were examined and verified by performing density functional theory calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanji Gao
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, P. R. China.,College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, Sichuan, P. R. China
| | - Fengjian Chu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Micro/Nano Electronic Devices and Smart Systems of Zhejiang, College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Weiwei Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Xiaozhi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Micro/Nano Electronic Devices and Smart Systems of Zhejiang, College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Yuanjiang Pan
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, P. R. China
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5
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Gupta S, Samal N. Application of direct analysis in real-time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) in forensic science: a comprehensive review. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s41935-022-00276-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
As the rate of crime is constantly increasing, the workload on the forensic analyst also piles up. The availability of a limited number of seized samples makes it crucial to directly analyze the sample, thereby preventing wastage in the prior steps of sample preparation. Due to such needs, the forensic community is consistently working on broadening the usage of direct analysis in real-time mass spectrometry (DART-MS). DART-MS is a relatively new technique for rapid mass spectral analysis. Its use for chemical analysis credits its ability to analyze the sample at atmospheric pressure.
Main body
This article gives insight into the ionization mechanisms, data analysis tools, and the use of hyphenated techniques like thermal-desorption-DART-MS, infrared-thermal-desorption-DART-MS, Joule-heating thermal-desorption-DART-MS, etc. This review summarizes the applications of DART-MS in the field of Forensic Science reported from 2005 to 2021. The applications include analysis of drugs, warfare agents, gun-shot residues, ink differentiation, and other forensically relevant samples. The paper also presents the relation between the type of DART-MS technique and the ionization mode used for a particular class of compounds.
Conclusion
The review follows that the high-resolution mass-spectrometers or low-resolution mass-spectrometers systems in the positive or negative mode were highly dependent on the type of analyte under investigation. Drugs, inks, dyes, and paints were mainly analyzed using the positive ionization mode in the HRMS technique. The examinations of fire accelerants predominantly used the positive ionization mode in the LRMS technique. Moreover, the limit of detection values obtained from the qualitative screening of street drugs were of ppb level, indicating high sensitivity of DART-MS. Considering the work done in the past years, there are potential future research needs of this technology, especially in forensic science.
Graphical Abstract
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6
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Hong H, Habib A, Bi L, Wen L. Gas phase ion-molecule reactions of nitroaromatic explosive compounds studied by hollow cathode discharge ionization-mass spectrometry. Talanta 2022; 236:122834. [PMID: 34635224 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we have developed a variable pressure operating hollow cathode discharge (HCD) ion source to investigate the gas phase ion-molecule reactions of nitroaromatic explosive compounds. The developed HCD ion source coupled MS system has also been validated as an analytical method to analyze explosives at trace levels. The ion source was designed in such a way that the plasma can be generated alternatively at high pressure (~30 Torr), medium pressure (~5 Torr) and low pressure (~1 Torr) regions. The plasma contains a sufficient amount of reactant ions, electrons and excited species, thus the gaseous analyte molecules were efficiently ionized when they passed through the plasma. In the ion-molecule reactions of the nitroaromatic explosives, the discharge products of NOx- (x = 2,3), O3 and HNO3 originating from the plasma-excited air were suggested to contribute to the formation of mostly [M - H]-, [M - NO]-, [M+NO3-HNO2]- and [M-NO+HNO3]- adduct ions at the higher ion source pressures (~5 and 28 Torr) while the electron rich plasma leads to the formation of molecular ion, M-•, at the lower ion source pressure (~1 Torr). Formation of the hydride-adduct ions of the nitroaromatic compounds reveals the surface-assisted Birch type reduction in the HCD plasma. The variety of spectral patterns in the air-assisted glow discharge would be useful for high through-put detection of TNT and TNT-related explosives. An ambient helium dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) ion source was also used and gave identical mass spectra of the nitroaromatic explosive compounds to those observed by the HCD ion source, but did not give any hydride-adduct ions of the explosive compounds. Ion formation mechanism of these ions is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanhuan Hong
- The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China; China Innovation Instrument Co., Ltd, Ningbo, 315000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ahsan Habib
- The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China; Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
| | - Lei Bi
- The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China; China Innovation Instrument Co., Ltd, Ningbo, 315000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Luhong Wen
- The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China; China Innovation Instrument Co., Ltd, Ningbo, 315000, Zhejiang, China.
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7
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Evans-Nguyen K, Stelmack AR, Clowser PC, Holtz JM, Mulligan CC. FIELDABLE MASS SPECTROMETRY FOR FORENSIC SCIENCE, HOMELAND SECURITY, AND DEFENSE APPLICATIONS. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2021; 40:628-646. [PMID: 32722885 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Mass spectrometry is commonly used in forensic chemistry laboratories for sensitive, definitive analysis. There have been significant efforts to bring mass spectrometry analysis on-site through the development of ruggedized, fieldable instruments. Testing samples in the field is of particular interest in forensic science, homeland security, and defense applications. In forensic chemistry, testing seized drugs in the field can significantly improve efficiencies in processing of related criminal cases. The screening of passengers and luggage at transportation hubs is a critical need for homeland security for which mass spectrometry is well suited to provide definitive answers with low false positive rates. Mass spectrometry can yield reliable data for military personnel testing sites for potential chemical weapons release. To meet the needs of the forensic and security communities fieldable mass spectrometers based on membrane inlet systems and hybrid gas chromatography systems have been developed and commercialized. More recently developed ambient ionization mass spectrometry methods can eliminate the time, equipment, and expertise associated with sample preparation, and so are especially appealing for on-site analysis. We describe the development of fieldable mass spectrometry systems, with emphasis on commercially available systems that have been deployed for on-site analysis of seized drugs, chemical warfare agents, explosives, and other analytes of interest to the forensic and security communities. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Mass Spec Rev.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenyon Evans-Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, University of Tampa, Tampa, FL
| | | | | | - Jessica M Holtz
- Department of Chemistry, Illinois State University, Normal, IL
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8
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Forensic Analysis of Polymeric Carpet Fibers Using Direct Analysis in Real Time Coupled to an AccuTOF™ Mass Spectrometer. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13162687. [PMID: 34451227 PMCID: PMC8398551 DOI: 10.3390/polym13162687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Polymeric fibers are encountered in numerous forensic circumstances. This study focused on polymeric carpet fibers most encountered at a crime scene, which are nylons, polyesters and olefins. Analysis of the multiple polymer types was done using Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART™) coupled to an Accurate time-of-flight (AccuTOF™) mass spectrometer (MS). A DART gas temperature of 275 °C was determined as optimal. Twelve olefin, polyester, and nylon polymer standards were used for parameter optimization for the carpet fiber analysis. A successful identification and differentiation of all twelve polymer standards was completed using the DART-AccuTOF™. Thirty-two carpet samples of both known and unknown fiber composition were collected and subsequently analyzed. All samples with known fiber compositions were correctly identified by class. All of the remaining carpet samples with no known composition information were correctly identified by confirmation using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The method was also capable of identifying sub-classes of nylon carpet fibers. The results exhibit the capability of DART-AccuTOF™ being applied as an addition to the sequence of tests conducted to analyze carpet fibers in a forensic laboratory.
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9
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Habib A, Bi L, Wen L. Simultaneous detection and quantification of explosives by a modified hollow cathode discharge ion source. Talanta 2021; 233:122596. [PMID: 34215084 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Detection of explosives at trace levels is crucial for security purposes because of increasing worldwide terrorist threats at public places. Previously, a hollow cathode discharge (HCD) ion source has been fabricated for detection of explosives. Recently, the HCD ion source has been modified for a dual pressures operating system and coupled to a linear ion trap MS to analyze explosives simultaneously. Here, trinitrotoluene (TNT), nitroglycerin (NG), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) and 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) were taken as model explosive compounds and the mass spectra were recorded in the negative mode ionization. At the higher ion source pressure (~28.0-30.0 Torr), NG, PETN and RDX gave adduct ions with the NO3- ion while TNT showed the [TNT + NO3-HNO2]- (m/z 242) simultaneously. However, NG and PETN did not give any ion signals at the lower ion source pressure (~0.8-1.0 Torr) while TNT exhibited its molecular ion, [TNT]-• (m/z 227), as a major ion through electron attachment and RDX showed fragment ions that followed electron capture dissociation concurrently. The modified HCD ion source exhibited better sensitivity in simultaneous detection and quantification of the explosives. The NO3- and NO2- as reagent ions in the air HCD plasma form stable adduct ions with the NG, PETN and RDX even with TNT at the higher temperature (140-200 °C). The formation of the NO3-, NO2- in the HCD plasma also causes the formation of [TNT-H]- (m/z 226) at the higher ion source pressure. The inner metallic surface of the hollow tube assists the Birch reduction type reaction that results in the formation of hydride ion of the TNT, [TNT + H]- (m/z 228). No significant difference in the spectral pattern for simultaneous and individual measurements for the explosives was observed at the higher ion source pressure. Therefore, it may conclude that the present modified HCD ion source can be used for simultaneous detection and quantification of the explosive compounds at trace and/or ultra-trace levels using air as a carrier gas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahsan Habib
- The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China; Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
| | - Lei Bi
- The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China; China Innovation Instrument Co., Ltd, Ningbo, 315000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Luhong Wen
- The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China; China Innovation Instrument Co., Ltd, Ningbo, 315000, Zhejiang, China.
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10
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Feider CL, Gatmaitan AN, Hooper T, Chakraborty A, Gowda P, Buchanan E, Eberlin LS. Integrating the MasSpec Pen with Sub-Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization for Rapid Chemical Analysis and Forensic Applications. Anal Chem 2021; 93:7549-7556. [PMID: 34008955 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c00393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Analytical methods that allow rapid, sensitive, and specific chemical measurements are central to forensic analysis and essential to accelerating compound screening and confirmation. We have previously reported the development of the MasSpec Pen technology as an easy-to-use and disposable hand-held device integrated to a mass spectrometer for direct analysis and molecular profiling of biological samples. In this Technical Note, we describe a new apparatus that integrates the MasSpec Pen device with a subatmospheric pressure chemical ionization (sub-APCI) source and an ion trap mass spectrometer for detection and semiquantitative analysis of forensic-related compounds. Coupling the MasSpec Pen device to a sub-APCI source allowed semiquantitative analysis of the drugs cocaine and oxycodone, the agrochemicals atrazine and azoxystrobin, and the explosives trinitrotoluene and dinitroglycerin in under 20 s. Using chemical ionization, improved reproducibility and sensitivity for targeted chemical detection and compound identification was achieved while maintaining the user-friendly features of the hand-held MasSpec Pen device. Limits of detection in the high picogram to low nanogram range were obtained for the compounds analyzed, which are within the range of federal screening cutoffs and those reported for other ambient ionization MS techniques. Altogether, the MasSpec Pen sub-APCI system described enabled rapid and semiquantitative chemical analysis for forensic applications and could be further adapted and applied to other areas of chemical testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara L Feider
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Abigail N Gatmaitan
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Tim Hooper
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Ashish Chakraborty
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Prajwal Gowda
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Emily Buchanan
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Livia S Eberlin
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
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11
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Simon AG, Van Arsdale K, Barrow J, Wagner J. Real-time monitoring of TATP released from PDMS-based canine training aids versus bulk TATP using DART-MS. Forensic Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2021.100315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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12
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Sisco E, Forbes TP. Forensic applications of DART-MS: A review of recent literature. Forensic Chem 2021; 22:10.1016/j.forc.2020.100294. [PMID: 36575658 PMCID: PMC9791994 DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2020.100294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The need for rapid chemical analyses and new analytical tools in forensic laboratories continues to grow due to case backlogs, difficult-to-analyze cases, and identification of previously unseen materials such as new psychoactive substances. To adapt to these needs, the forensics community has been pursuing the use of ambient ionization mass spectrometry, and more specifically direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS), for a wide range of applications. From the inception of DART-MS forensic applications have been researched with demonstrations ranging from drugs of abuse to inorganic gunshot residue to printer inks to insect identification. This article presents a review of research demonstrating the use of DART-MS for forensically relevant samples over the past five years. To provide more context, background on the technique, sampling approaches, and data analysis methods are presented along with a discussion on the potential future and research needs of the technology.
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13
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Habib A, Bi L, Hong H, Wen L. Challenges and Strategies of Chemical Analysis of Drugs of Abuse and Explosives by Mass Spectrometry. Front Chem 2021; 8:598487. [PMID: 33537286 PMCID: PMC7847941 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.598487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In analytical science, mass spectrometry (MS) is known as a "gold analytical tool" because of its unique character of providing the direct molecular structural information of the relevant analyte molecules. Therefore, MS technique has widely been used in all branches of chemistry along with in proteomics, metabolomics, genomics, lipidomics, environmental monitoring etc. Mass spectrometry-based methods are very much needed for fast and reliable detection and quantification of drugs of abuse and explosives in order to provide fingerprint information for criminal investigation as well as for public security and safety at public places, respectively. Most of the compounds exist as their neutral form in nature except proteins, peptides, nucleic acids that are in ionic forms intrinsically. In MS, ion source is the heart of the MS that is used for ionizing the electrically neutral molecules. Performance of MS in terms of sensitivity and selectivity depends mainly on the efficiency of the ionization source. Accordingly, much attention has been paid to develop efficient ion sources for a wide range of compounds. Unfortunately, none of the commercial ion sources can be used for ionization of different types of compounds. Moreover, in MS, analyte molecules must be released into the gaseous phase and then ionize by using a suitable ion source for detection/quantification. Under these circumstances, fabrication of new ambient ion source and ultrasonic cutter blade-based non-thermal and thermal desorption methods have been taken into account. In this paper, challenges and strategies of mass spectrometry analysis of the drugs of abuse and explosives through fabrication of ambient ionization sources and new desorption methods for non-volatile compounds have been described. We will focus the literature progress mostly in the last decade and present our views for the future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahsan Habib
- The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Lei Bi
- The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- China Innovation Instrument Co., Ltd., Ningbo, China
| | - Huanhuan Hong
- The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- China Innovation Instrument Co., Ltd., Ningbo, China
| | - Luhong Wen
- The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- China Innovation Instrument Co., Ltd., Ningbo, China
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14
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Bonnar C, Popelka-Filcoff R, Kirkbride KP. Armed with the Facts: A Method for the Analysis of Smokeless Powders by Ambient Mass Spectrometry. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2020; 31:1943-1956. [PMID: 32872785 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.0c00193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The work presented here follows several others in investigating what capabilities, if any, ambient mass spectrometry might have toward the analysis of compounds commonly associated with smokeless propellant powders. This family of instrumental techniques has attracted curiosity from the field of forensic science due to its desirable properties such as rapid collection of information-rich data, combined with minimal requirements for sample mass and preparation. Experiments were conducted with a "Direct Sample Analysis" ion source integrated with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The ionization behaviors of nitroglycerin, methyl and ethyl centralite, akardite, diphenylamine, nitrosodiphenylamine, and nitrated diphenylamine derivatives were investigated specifically, with accurate-mass data presented for each. Diphenylamine standards were used to demonstrate the performance of this instrument, which exhibited good response linearity across 1 order of magnitude and sub-nanogram detection limits. Thirty smokeless powder extracts, recovered from ammunition potentially in circulation within Australia, were analyzed to determine whether the technique is appropriate for rapid analysis of smokeless powder particles. Results demonstrated that the technique might be applied to compare individual particles with each other or to a database. Such a capability may be of value in the examination of explosive devices containing smokeless powder, postblast residues therefrom, or muzzle discharge from a close-range shooting. However, when efforts were made to detect residues from the hands of a volunteer shooter, only some returned positive results, and a high background signal from the sample collection stub indicates that detection using this instrument is thus far insufficiently reliable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callum Bonnar
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia
| | - Rachel Popelka-Filcoff
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia
- School of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia
| | - K Paul Kirkbride
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia
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15
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Sisco E, Robinson EL. Determination of ethanol concentration in alcoholic beverages by direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS). Forensic Chem 2020; 18. [PMID: 33305146 DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2020.100219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Determination of the ethanol concentration in beverages remains an occasional request to forensic laboratories. While traditionally determined using headspace gas chromatography (HS-GC), this process involves lengthy run times and the need for specialized headspace sampling equipment for the GC system. The work presented here highlights a potential alternative to HS-GC analysis, using direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS). By incorporating a simple T-junction to the orifice of the mass spectrometer, analysis of the headspace of a beverage can be completed, resulting in measurement of the ethanol concentration in a matter of seconds with greater than 99% accuracy. This work presents the development of a method for ethanol quantitation as well as results from the analysis of both ethanol reference material standards and in-house created ethanol-containing solutions to evaluate the precision and accuracy of the technique. Analysis of ethanolic beverages via DART-MS is shown to be a rapid and reliable alternative to traditional analysis by HS-GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Sisco
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 USA
| | - Elizabeth L Robinson
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 USA
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16
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Pavlov J, Douce D, Bajic S, Attygalle AB. 1,4-Benzoquinone as a Highly Efficient Dopant for Enhanced Ionization and Detection of Nitramine Explosives on a Single-Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer Fitted with a Helium-Plasma Ionization (HePI) Source. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2019; 30:2704-2710. [PMID: 31673948 DOI: 10.1007/s13361-019-02339-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Previous investigations have evaluated the efficacy of anions such as NO3-, Cl-, Br-, CH3COO-, and CF3COO- as additives to generate or enhance mass spectrometric signals from explosives under plasma ionization conditions. The results of this study demonstrate that for detecting nitramine-class explosives, such as 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazacyclooctane (HMX), 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ) is a highly effective and efficient dopant. When used in conjunction with ambient-pressure negative-ion helium-plasma ionization (HePI), 1,4-benzoquinone readily captures an electron, forming an abundant molecular anion (m/z 108), which upon exposure to vapors of RDX and HMX generates adduct ions of m/z 330 and 404, respectively. The signal level recorded for RDX upon adduction to the radical anion of 1,4-benzoquinone under our experimental conditions was significantly higher than that realized by chloride adduction using dichloromethane (DCM) as the dopant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Pavlov
- Center for Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ, 07030, USA
| | | | | | - Athula B Attygalle
- Center for Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ, 07030, USA.
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17
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Black C, D'Souza T, Smith JC, Hearns NG. Identification of post-blast explosive residues using direct-analysis-in-real-time and mass spectrometry (DART-MS). Forensic Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2019.100185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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18
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Nanofibers mat as sampling module of direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry for sensitive and high-throughput screening of illegally adulterated sulfonylureas in antidiabetic health-care teas. Talanta 2019; 204:753-761. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2019.06.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Revised: 06/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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19
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An S, Liu S, Cao J, Lu S. Nitrogen-Activated Oxidation in Nitrogen Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS) and Rapid Detection of Explosives Using Thermal Desorption DART-MS. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2019; 30:2092-2100. [PMID: 31368004 DOI: 10.1007/s13361-019-02279-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) was used to analyze an array of explosives including nitro-based explosives, peroxide explosives, and energetic heterocyclic compounds with different DART discharge gases (helium, argon, and nitrogen). Profound analyte oxidation was observed for particular compounds (TNT (9) and 2, 4-DNT (10)), whose mass spectra were completely dominated by the oxidation products when nitrogen was substituted for helium in DART analysis. This interesting phenomenon suggested that a highly oxidative environment provided by N2 DART ion source. A possible mechanism involved in nitrogen DART was proposed which may help further understanding the different chemistry involved in the ionization process. This work also presents a thermal desorption DART (TD-DART) configuration that can enable rapid, specific analysis of explosives from swipes. The screening of swipes with three different compositions (fiberglass, Hybond N+ membrane, and filter paper) showed that fiberglass swipe has the best performance which was then used for the subsequent TD-DART analysis. A direct comparison of TD-DART with traditional DART demonstrated that TD-DART indeed gives better response than traditional DART (provided that the distance between the DART source and mass spectrometer is the same) and will have wider applications than traditional DART.
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Affiliation(s)
- ShuQi An
- Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Ministry of Education of China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials; School of Chemistry, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Ministry of Education of China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials; School of Chemistry, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Jie Cao
- Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Ministry of Education of China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials; School of Chemistry, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China.
| | - ShiFang Lu
- Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Ministry of Education of China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials; School of Chemistry, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China
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20
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You Y, Badal SP, Shelley JT. Automatic Analyte-Ion Recognition and Background Removal for Ambient Mass-Spectrometric Data Based on Cross-Correlation. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2019; 30:1720-1732. [PMID: 31161333 DOI: 10.1007/s13361-019-02246-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Ambient mass spectrometry is a powerful approach for rapid, high-throughput, and direct sample analysis. Due to the open-air desorption and ionization processes, random fluctuations of ambient conditions can lead to large variances in mass-spectral signals over time. The mass-spectral data also can be further complicated due to multiple analytes present in the sample, background-ion signals stemming from the desorption/ionization source itself, and other laboratory-specific conditions (e.g., ambient laboratory air, nearby hardware). Thus, background removal and analyte-ion recognition can be quite difficult, particularly in non-targeted analyses. Here, we demonstrate the use of a cross-correlation-based approach to exploit chemical information encoded in the time domain to group/categorize mass-spectral peaks from a single analysis dataset. Ions that originate from ambient (or other) background species were readily flagged and removed from spectra; the result was a decrease in mass-spectral complexity by over 70% due to the removal of these background ions. Meanwhile, analyte ions were differentiated and categorized based on their time-domain profiles. With sufficient mass resolving-power and mass-spectral acquisition rate, isolated mass spectra containing ions from the same species in a sample could be extracted, leading to a reduction in mass-spectral complexity by more than 98% in some cases. The cross-correlation approach was tested with different ionization sources as well as reproducible and irreproducible sample introduction. Software built in-house enabled fully automated data processing, which can be performed within a few seconds. Ultimately, this approach provides an additional dimension of analyte separation in ambient mass-spectrometric analyses with information that is already recorded throughout the analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi You
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
| | - Sunil P Badal
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Jacob T Shelley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
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21
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Gaiffe G, Cole RB, Sonnette A, Floch N, Bridoux MC. Identification of Postblast Residues by DART-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry Combined with Multivariate Statistical Analysis of the Kendrick Mass Defect. Anal Chem 2019; 91:8093-8100. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b00137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Gaiffe
- Sorbonne Université, Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, CNRS, Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire (IPCM), 4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris, Cedex 05, France
- CEA, DAM, DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, France
| | - Richard B. Cole
- Sorbonne Université, Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, CNRS, Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire (IPCM), 4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris, Cedex 05, France
| | | | - Nolwenn Floch
- Laboratoire Central de la Préfecture de Police, 39 bis rue de Dantzig, 75015 Paris, France
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22
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Almeida Assis AC, Caetano J, Florêncio MH, Cordeiro C. Triacetone triperoxide characterization by FT-ICR mass spectrometry: Uncovering multiple forensic evidence. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 301:37-45. [PMID: 31128407 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Triacetone triperoxide is one of the most common used explosives by terrorist and criminal groups, being easily synthesized with over the counter reagents. Moreover, it's difficult to detect since it contains no nitrogen. Extreme resolution mass spectrometry, based on Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry provides a way to established its composition, being able to detect its presence in complex matrixes. In this work, we investigated the detailed chemical composition of triacetone triperoxide and analysed latent fingerprints for evidence of its handling. Our results allowed the characterization of the oligoperoxides formed in the synthesis of triacetone triperoxide: oligomers dihydroperoxy terminated [H(OOC(CH3)2)nOOH] and the oligomeric acetone carbonyl oxides terminated as hydroperoxides [H(O2C(CH3)2)nOOC(O)CH3]. The discrimination between the different synthetic routes using different acid catalysts is possible given the clear differences between the mass spectrum corresponding to each case. Moreover, we identified triacetone triperoxide in latent fingerprints following its manipulation. For criminal investigation, in addition to the unambiguous detection and identification of the explosive, it is of the highest interest to identify the reagents used, who produced it and who used it for criminal purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cristina Almeida Assis
- Laboratório de FT-ICR e Espectrometria de Massa Estrutural, Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal; Laboratório de Polícia Científica da Polícia Judiciária, Portugal.
| | - José Caetano
- EOD
- CBRN Unit/Police Special Unit - Polícia de Segurança Pública, Portugal.
| | - Maria Helena Florêncio
- Laboratório de FT-ICR e Espectrometria de Massa Estrutural, Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Carlos Cordeiro
- Laboratório de FT-ICR e Espectrometria de Massa Estrutural, Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal.
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23
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Costa C, van Es EM, Sears P, Bunch J, Palitsin V, Mosegaard K, Bailey MJ. Exploring Rapid, Sensitive and Reliable Detection of Trace Explosives Using Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry (PS‐MS). PROPELLANTS EXPLOSIVES PYROTECHNICS 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/prep.201800320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Catia Costa
- Ion Beam CentreUniversity of Surrey Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH UK
| | - Elsje M. van Es
- National Physical Laboratory Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LW UK
| | - Patrick Sears
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 7BP UK
| | - Josephine Bunch
- National Physical Laboratory Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LW UK
| | | | - Kirsten Mosegaard
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Surrey Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH UK
| | - Melanie J. Bailey
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Surrey Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH UK
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24
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Lennert E, Bridge CM. Rapid screening for smokeless powders using DART-HRMS and thermal desorption DART-HRMS. Forensic Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2019.100148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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25
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Forbes TP, Verkouteren JR. Forensic Analysis and Differentiation of Black Powder and Black Powder Substitute Chemical Signatures by Infrared Thermal Desorption-DART-MS. Anal Chem 2019; 91:1089-1097. [PMID: 30516959 PMCID: PMC6614743 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b04624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The trace detection and forensic analysis of black powders and black powder substitutes, directly from wipe-based sample collections, was demonstrated using infrared thermal desorption (IRTD) coupled with direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS). Discrete 15 s heating ramps were generated, creating a thermal desorption profile that desorbed more volatile species (e.g., organic and semivolatile inorganic compounds) at lower temperatures (250-400 °C) and nonvolatile inorganic oxidizers at high temperatures (450-550 °C). Common inorganic components of black powders (e.g., sulfur and potassium nitrate) as well as the alternative and additional organic and inorganic components of common black powder substitutes (e.g., dicyandiamide, ascorbic acid, sodium benzoate, guanidine nitrate, and potassium perchlorate) were detected from polytetrafluoroethylene-coated fiberglass collection wipes with no additional sample preparation. IRTD-DART-MS enabled the direct detection of intact inorganic salt species as nitrate adducts (e.g., [KClO4+NO3]-) and larger clusters. The larger ion distributions generated by these complex mixtures were differentiated using principal component analysis (PCA) of the mass spectra generated at two points during the thermal desorption profile (low and high temperatures), as well as at high in-source collision-induced dissociation. The PCA framework generated by the analysis of the two black powders and five black powder substitutes was used to classify samples collected from a commercial firecracker containing both flash powder and black powder. The coupling of IRTD-DART-MS and multivariate statistics demonstrated the powerful utility for detection and discrimination of trace fuel-oxidizer mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas P. Forbes
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Measurement Science Division, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Jennifer R. Verkouteren
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Measurement Science Division, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
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26
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Kuzovnikova LV, Maksimenko EV, Vorozhtsov AB, Pavlenko AA, Didenko AV, Titov SS. Detection and Identification of the Traces of Explosives with Using of Active Spectral Imaging. PROPELLANTS EXPLOSIVES PYROTECHNICS 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/prep.201800171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Liudmila V. Kuzovnikova
- Institute for Problems of Chemical and Energetic Technologies SB RAS, 659322, 1 Sotsialisticheskaya Str. 659322 Biysk, Altai Krai Russia
| | - Eugene V. Maksimenko
- Institute for Problems of Chemical and Energetic Technologies SB RAS, 659322, 1 Sotsialisticheskaya Str. 659322 Biysk, Altai Krai Russia
| | - Alexander B. Vorozhtsov
- Institute for Problems of Chemical and Energetic Technologies SB RAS, 659322, 1 Sotsialisticheskaya Str. 659322 Biysk, Altai Krai Russia
- National Research Tomsk State University 634050, 36 Lenina Avenue Tomsk, Russia
| | - Anatolii A. Pavlenko
- Institute for Problems of Chemical and Energetic Technologies SB RAS, 659322, 1 Sotsialisticheskaya Str. 659322 Biysk, Altai Krai Russia
| | - Alexander V. Didenko
- Institute for Problems of Chemical and Energetic Technologies SB RAS, 659322, 1 Sotsialisticheskaya Str. 659322 Biysk, Altai Krai Russia
| | - Sergei S. Titov
- Institute for Problems of Chemical and Energetic Technologies SB RAS, 659322, 1 Sotsialisticheskaya Str. 659322 Biysk, Altai Krai Russia
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27
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McKenna J, Dhummakupt ES, Connell T, Demond PS, Miller DB, Michael Nilles J, Manicke NE, Glaros T. Detection of chemical warfare agent simulants and hydrolysis products in biological samples by paper spray mass spectrometry. Analyst 2018; 142:1442-1451. [PMID: 28338135 DOI: 10.1039/c7an00144d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Paper spray ionization coupled to a high resolution tandem mass spectrometer (a quadrupole orbitrap) was used to identify and quantitate chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulants and their hydrolysis products in blood and urine. Three CWA simulants, dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), trimethyl phosphate (TMP), and diisopropyl methylphosphonate (DIMP), and their isotopically labeled standards were analyzed in human whole blood and urine. Calibration curves were generated and tested with continuing calibration verification standards. Limits of detection for these three compounds were in the low ng mL-1 range for the direct analysis of both blood and urine samples. Five CWA hydrolysis products, ethyl methylphosphonic acid (EMPA), isopropyl methylphosphonic acid (IMPA), isobutyl methylphosphonic acid (iBuMPA), cyclohexyl methylphosphonic acid (CHMPA), and pinacolyl methylphosphonic acid (PinMPA), were also analyzed. Calibration curves were generated in both positive and negative ion modes. Limits of detection in the negative ion mode ranged from 0.36 ng mL-1 to 1.25 ng mL-1 in both blood and urine for the hydrolysis products. These levels were well below those found in victims of the Tokyo subway attack of 2 to 135 ng mL-1. Improved stability and robustness of the paper spray technique in the negative ion mode was achieved by the addition of chlorinated solvents. These applications demonstrate that paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) can be used for rapid, sample preparation-free detection of chemical warfare agents and their hydrolysis products at physiologically relevant concentrations in biological samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josiah McKenna
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
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28
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Lennert E, Bridge C. Analysis and classification of smokeless powders by GC–MS and DART-TOFMS. Forensic Sci Int 2018; 292:11-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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29
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Bain RM, Fedick PW, Dilger JM, Cooks RG. Analysis of Residual Explosives by Swab Touch Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometry. PROPELLANTS EXPLOSIVES PYROTECHNICS 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/prep.201800122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan M. Bain
- Department of Chemistry Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 United States
| | - Patrick W. Fedick
- Department of Chemistry Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 United States
| | - Jonathan M. Dilger
- Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division Crane, Indiana 47522 United States
| | - R. Graham Cooks
- Department of Chemistry Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 United States
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30
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Ambient Pressure Laser Desorption—Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry for Fast and Reliable Detection of Explosives, Drugs, and Their Precursors. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/app8060933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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31
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Marić M, Marano J, Cody RB, Bridge C. DART-MS: A New Analytical Technique for Forensic Paint Analysis. Anal Chem 2018; 90:6877-6884. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b01067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark Marić
- National Center for Forensic Science, University of Central Florida, PO Box 162367, Orlando, Florida 32816-2367, United States
| | - James Marano
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Orlando Regional Operations Center, 500 West Robinson Street, Orlando, Florida 32801, United States
| | - Robert B. Cody
- JEOL USA, Inc., 11 Dearborn Road, Peabody, Massachusetts 01960, United States
| | - Candice Bridge
- National Center for Forensic Science, University of Central Florida, PO Box 162367, Orlando, Florida 32816-2367, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32816, United States
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32
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33
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Abstract
Ambient mass spectrometry has evolved rapidly over the past decade, yielding a plethora of platforms and demonstrating scientific advancements across a range of fields from biological imaging to rapid quality control. These techniques have enabled real-time detection of target analytes in an open environment with no sample preparation and can be coupled to any mass analyzer with an atmospheric pressure interface; capabilities of clear interest to the defense, customs and border control, transportation security, and forensic science communities. This review aims to showcase and critically discuss advances in ambient mass spectrometry for the trace detection of explosives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas P Forbes
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Measurement Science Division, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
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34
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Pavlovich MJ, Musselman B, Hall AB. Direct analysis in real time-Mass spectrometry (DART-MS) in forensic and security applications. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2018; 37:171-187. [PMID: 27271453 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Over the last decade, direct analysis in real time (DART) has emerged as a viable method for fast, easy, and reliable "ambient ionization" for forensic analysis. The ability of DART to generate ions from chemicals that might be present at the scene of a criminal activity, whether they are in the gas, liquid, or solid phase, with limited sample preparation has made the technology a useful analytical tool in numerous forensic applications. This review paper summarizes many of those applications, ranging from the analysis of trace evidence to security applications, with a focus on providing the forensic scientist with a resource for developing their own applications. The most common uses for DART in forensics are in studying seized drugs, drugs of abuse and their metabolites, bulk and detonated explosives, toxic chemicals, chemical warfare agents, inks and dyes, and commercial plant and animal products that have been adulterated for economic gain. This review is meant to complement recent reviews that have described the fundamentals of the ionization mechanism and the general use of DART. We describe a wide range of forensic applications beyond the field of analyzing drugs of abuse, which dominates the literature, including common experimental and data analysis methods. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 37:171-187, 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Pavlovich
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Barnett Institute for Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University, Boston 02115, Massachusetts
| | | | - Adam B Hall
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Barnett Institute for Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University, Boston 02115, Massachusetts
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35
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Nabiev SS, Palkina LA. Modern technologies for detection and identification of explosive agents and devices. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B 2017. [DOI: 10.1134/s1990793117050190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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36
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Sarkar D, Som A, Pradeep T. Catalytic Paper Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometry with Metal Nanotubes and the Detection of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene. Anal Chem 2017; 89:11378-11382. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b02288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Depanjan Sarkar
- DST Unit of Nanoscience (DST
UNS) and Thematic Unit of Excellence (TUE), Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 60036, India
| | - Anirban Som
- DST Unit of Nanoscience (DST
UNS) and Thematic Unit of Excellence (TUE), Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 60036, India
| | - Thalappil Pradeep
- DST Unit of Nanoscience (DST
UNS) and Thematic Unit of Excellence (TUE), Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 60036, India
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37
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Liu ZF, Xu B, Sun ZW, Sun YY, Zhou H, Zhu J, Xu JZ, Duan XK, Liu CC. Identification of Nitro Explosives by Direct Analysis in Real-Time Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry. ANAL LETT 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/00032719.2017.1282503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhan-Fang Liu
- Trace Evidence Department, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Xu
- Technical Department, ASPEC Technologies Limited, Beijing, China
| | - Zhen-Wen Sun
- Trace Evidence Department, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-You Sun
- Trace Evidence Department, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Zhou
- Trace Evidence Department, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Zhu
- Trace Evidence Department, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, China
| | - Jian-Zhong Xu
- Trace Evidence Department, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Kun Duan
- Technical Department, ASPEC Technologies Limited, Beijing, China
| | - Charles C. Liu
- Technical Department, ASPEC Technologies Limited, Beijing, China
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38
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Microplasma-based flowing atmospheric-pressure afterglow (FAPA) source for ambient desorption-ionization mass spectrometry. Anal Chim Acta 2017; 952:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2016.10.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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39
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Forbes TP, Sisco E, Staymates M, Gillen G. DART-MS analysis of inorganic explosives using high temperature thermal desorption. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2017; 9:4988-4996. [PMID: 29651308 PMCID: PMC5890339 DOI: 10.1039/c7ay00867h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
An ambient mass spectrometry (MS) platform coupling resistive Joule heating thermal desorption (JHTD) and direct analysis in real time (DART) was implemented for the analysis of inorganic nitrite, nitrate, chlorate, and perchlorate salts. The resistive heating component generated discrete and rapid heating ramps and elevated temperatures, up to approximately 400 °C s-1 and 750 °C, by passing a few amperes of DC current through a nichrome wire. JHTD enhanced the utility and capabilities of traditional DART-MS for the trace detection of previously difficult to detect inorganic compounds. A partial factorial design of experiments (DOE) was implemented for the systematic evaluation of five system parameters. A base set of conditions for JHTD-DART-MS was derived from this evaluation, demonstrating sensitive detection of a range of inorganic oxidizer salts, down to single nanogram levels. DOE also identified JHTD filament current and in-source collision induced dissociation (CID) energy as inducing the greatest effect on system response. Tuning of JHTD current provided a method for controlling the relative degrees of thermal desorption and thermal decomposition. Furthermore, in-source CID provided manipulation of adduct and cluster fragmentation, optimizing the detection of molecular anion species. Finally, the differential thermal desorption nature of the JHTD-DART platform demonstrated efficient desorption and detection of organic and inorganic explosive mixtures, with each desorbing at its respective optimal temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas P Forbes
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Measurement Science Division, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Edward Sisco
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Measurement Science Division, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Matthew Staymates
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Measurement Science Division, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Greg Gillen
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Measurement Science Division, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
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40
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Maric M, Bridge C. Characterizing and classifying water-based lubricants using direct analysis in real time®time of flight mass spectrometry. Forensic Sci Int 2016; 266:73-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Revised: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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41
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Li F, Tice J, Musselman BD, Hall AB. A method for rapid sampling and characterization of smokeless powder using sorbent-coated wire mesh and direct analysis in real time - mass spectrometry (DART-MS). Sci Justice 2016; 56:321-328. [DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2016.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Revised: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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42
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Bridoux MC, Schwarzenberg A, Schramm S, Cole RB. Combined use of direct analysis in real-time/Orbitrap mass spectrometry and micro-Raman spectroscopy for the comprehensive characterization of real explosive samples. Anal Bioanal Chem 2016; 408:5677-5687. [PMID: 27318472 PMCID: PMC4958401 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-016-9691-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Revised: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART™) high-resolution Orbitrap™ mass spectrometry (HRMS) in combination with Raman microscopy was used for the detailed molecular level characterization of explosives including not only the charge but also the complex matrix of binders, plasticizers, polymers, and other possible organic additives. A total of 15 defused military weapons including grenades, mines, rockets, submunitions, and mortars were examined. Swabs and wipes were used to collect trace (residual) amounts of explosives and their organic constituents from the defused military weapons and micrometer-size explosive particles were transferred using a vacuum suction-impact collection device (vacuum impactor) from wipe and swap samples to an impaction plate made of carbon. The particles deposited on the carbon plate were then characterized using micro-Raman spectroscopy followed by DART-HRMS providing fingerprint signatures of orthogonal nature. The optical microscope of the micro-Raman spectrometer was first used to localize and characterize the explosive charge on the impaction plate which was then targeted for identification by DART-HRMS analysis in both the negative and positive modes. Raman spectra of the explosives TNT, RDX and PETN were acquired from micrometer size particles and characterized by the presence of their characteristic Raman bands obtained directly at the surface of the impaction plate nondestructively without further sample preparation. Negative mode DART-HRMS confirmed the types of charges contained in the weapons (mainly TNT, RDX, HMX, and PETN; either as individual components or as mixtures). These energetic compounds were mainly detected as deprotonated species [M–H]−, or as adduct [M + 35Cl]−, [M + 37Cl]−, or [M + NO3]− anions. Chloride adducts were promoted in the heated DART reagent gas by adding chloroform vapors to the helium stream using an “in-house” delivery method. When the polarity was switched to positive mode, DART-HRMS revealed a very complex distribution of polymeric binders (mainly polyethylene glycols and polypropylene glycols), plasticizers (e.g., dioctyl sebacate, tributyl phosphate), as well as wax-like compounds whose structural features could not be precisely assigned. In positive mode, compounds were identified either as protonated molecules or ammonium adduct species. These results clearly demonstrate the complementarity of micro-Raman microscopy combined with DART-MS. The former technique provides structural information on the type of explosives present at the surface of the sample, whereas the latter provides not only a confirmation of the nature of the explosive charge but also useful additional information regarding the nature of the complex organic matrix of binders, plasticizers, polymers, oils, and potentially other organic additives and contaminants present in the sample. Combining these two techniques provides a powerful tool for the screening, comprehensive characterization, and differentiation of particulate explosive samples for forensic sciences and homeland security applications. Comprehensive characterization of explosive particles collected from swipe samples by micro-Raman and DART™-HRMS ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Richard B Cole
- UPMC, IPCM/CSOB, UMR 8232, 4 Place Jussieu, 75252, Paris cedex 05, France
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43
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Pavlovich MJ, Dunn EE, Hall AB. Chemometric brand differentiation of commercial spices using direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2016; 30:1123-1130. [PMID: 27060840 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.7536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Revised: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Commercial spices represent an emerging class of fuels for improvised explosives. Being able to classify such spices not only by type but also by brand would represent an important step in developing methods to analytically investigate these explosive compositions. Therefore, a combined ambient mass spectrometric/chemometric approach was developed to quickly and accurately classify commercial spices by brand. METHODS Direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) was used to generate mass spectra for samples of black pepper, cayenne pepper, and turmeric, along with four different brands of cinnamon, all dissolved in methanol. Unsupervised learning techniques showed that the cinnamon samples clustered according to brand. Then, we used supervised machine learning algorithms to build chemometric models with a known training set and classified the brands of an unknown testing set of cinnamon samples. RESULTS Ten independent runs of five-fold cross-validation showed that the training set error for the best-performing models (i.e., the linear discriminant and neural network models) was lower than 2%. The false-positive percentages for these models were 3% or lower, and the false-negative percentages were lower than 10%. In particular, the linear discriminant model perfectly classified the testing set with 0% error. Repeated iterations of training and testing gave similar results, demonstrating the reproducibility of these models. CONCLUSIONS Chemometric models were able to classify the DART mass spectra of commercial cinnamon samples according to brand, with high specificity and low classification error. This method could easily be generalized to other classes of spices, and it could be applied to authenticating questioned commercial samples of spices or to examining evidence from improvised explosives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Pavlovich
- Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emily E Dunn
- Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Adam B Hall
- Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
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44
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Keelor JD, Farnsworth PB, L Weber A, Abbott-Lyon H, Fernández FM. Multimodal Vacuum-Assisted Plasma Ion (VaPI) Source with Transmission Mode and Laser Ablation Sampling Capabilities. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2016; 27:897-907. [PMID: 26883531 DOI: 10.1007/s13361-016-1354-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Revised: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We have developed a multimodal ion source design that can be configured on the fly for various analysis modes, designed for more efficient and reproducible sampling at the mass spectrometer atmospheric pressure (AP) interface in a number of different applications. This vacuum-assisted plasma ionization (VaPI) source features interchangeable transmission mode and laser ablation sampling geometries. Operating in both AC and DC power regimes with similar results, the ion source was optimized for parameters including helium flow rate and gas temperature using transmission mode to analyze volatile standards and drug tablets. Using laser ablation, matrix effects were studied, and the source was used to monitor the products of model prebiotic synthetic reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel D Keelor
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Paul B Farnsworth
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | | | - Heather Abbott-Lyon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, USA
| | - Facundo M Fernández
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
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45
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Nabiev SS, Stavrovskii DB, Palkina LA, Golubeva EN, Zbarskii VL, Yudin NV, Semenov VM. Infrared spectroscopy of ICAO taggants. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B 2016. [DOI: 10.1134/s1990793116010103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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46
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Kauppila TJ, Flink A, Pukkila J, Ketola RA. Analysis of nitrogen-based explosives with desorption atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2016; 30:467-475. [PMID: 26777676 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.7469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Revised: 11/22/2015] [Accepted: 11/24/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Fast methods that allow the in situ analysis of explosives from a variety of surfaces are needed in crime scene investigations and home-land security. Here, the feasibility of the ambient mass spectrometry technique desorption atmospheric pressure photoionization (DAPPI) in the analysis of the most common nitrogen-based explosives is studied. METHODS DAPPI and desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) were compared in the direct analysis of trinitrotoluene (TNT), trinitrophenol (picric acid), octogen (HMX), cyclonite (RDX), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), and nitroglycerin (NG). The effect of different additives in DAPPI dopant and in DESI spray solvent on the ionization efficiency was tested, as well as the suitability of DAPPI to detect explosives from a variety of surfaces. RESULTS The analytes showed ions only in negative ion mode. With negative DAPPI, TNT and picric acid formed deprotonated molecules with all dopant systems, while RDX, HMX, PETN and NG were ionized by adduct formation. The formation of adducts was enhanced by addition of chloroform, formic acid, acetic acid or nitric acid to the DAPPI dopant. DAPPI was more sensitive than DESI for TNT, while DESI was more sensitive for HMX and picric acid. CONCLUSIONS DAPPI could become an important method for the direct analysis of nitroaromatics from a variety of surfaces. For compounds that are thermally labile, or that have very low vapor pressure, however, DESI is better suited.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J Kauppila
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - A Flink
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - J Pukkila
- Crime Laboratory, National Bureau of Investigation, Vantaa, Finland
| | - R A Ketola
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
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47
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Sisco E, Forbes TP. Direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry of potential by-products from homemade nitrate ester explosive synthesis. Talanta 2015; 150:177-83. [PMID: 26838397 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2015.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Revised: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
This work demonstrates the coupling of direct analysis in real time (DART) ionization with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MS) in an off-axis configuration for the trace detection and analysis of potential partially nitrated and dimerized by-products of homemade nitrate ester explosive synthesis. Five compounds relating to the synthesis of nitroglycerin (NG) and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) were examined. Deprotonated ions and adducts with molecular oxygen, nitrite, and nitrate were observed in the mass spectral responses of these compounds. A global optimum temperature of 350 °C for the by-products investigated here enabled single nanogram to sub nanogram trace detection. Matrix effects were examined through a series of mixtures containing one or more compounds (sugar alcohol precursors, by-products, and/or explosives) across a range of mass loadings. The explosives MS responses experienced competitive ionization in the presence of all by-products. The magnitude of this influence corresponded to both the degree of by-product nitration and the relative mass loading of the by-product to the explosive. This work provides a characterization of potential by-products from homemade nitrate ester synthesis, including matrix effects and potential challenges that might arise from the trace detection of homemade explosives (HMEs) containing impurities. Detection and understanding of HME impurities and complex mixtures may provide valuable information for the screening and sourcing of homemade nitrate ester explosives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Sisco
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Measurement Science Division, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, United States.
| | - Thomas P Forbes
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Measurement Science Division, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, United States
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48
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Gillen G, Najarro M, Wight S, Walker M, Verkouteren J, Windsor E, Barr T, Staymates M, Urbas A. Particle Fabrication Using Inkjet Printing onto Hydrophobic Surfaces for Optimization and Calibration of Trace Contraband Detection Sensors. SENSORS 2015; 15:29618-34. [PMID: 26610515 PMCID: PMC4701350 DOI: 10.3390/s151129618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Revised: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
A method has been developed to fabricate patterned arrays of micrometer-sized monodisperse solid particles of ammonium nitrate on hydrophobic silicon surfaces using inkjet printing. The method relies on dispensing one or more microdrops of a concentrated aqueous ammonium nitrate solution from a drop-on-demand (DOD) inkjet printer at specific locations on a silicon substrate rendered hydrophobic by a perfluorodecytrichlorosilane monolayer coating. The deposited liquid droplets form into the shape of a spherical shaped cap; during the evaporation process, a deposited liquid droplet maintains this geometry until it forms a solid micrometer sized particle. Arrays of solid particles are obtained by sequential translation of the printer stage. The use of DOD inkjet printing for fabrication of discrete particle arrays allows for precise control of particle characteristics (mass, diameter and height), as well as the particle number and spatial distribution on the substrate. The final mass of an individual particle is precisely determined by using gravimetric measurement of the average mass of solution ejected per microdrop. The primary application of this method is fabrication of test materials for the evaluation of spatially-resolved optical and mass spectrometry based sensors used for detecting particle residues of contraband materials, such as explosives or narcotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg Gillen
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Measurement Laboratory, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
| | - Marcela Najarro
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Measurement Laboratory, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
| | - Scott Wight
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Measurement Laboratory, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
| | - Marlon Walker
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Measurement Laboratory, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
| | - Jennifer Verkouteren
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Measurement Laboratory, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
| | - Eric Windsor
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Measurement Laboratory, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
| | - Tim Barr
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Measurement Laboratory, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
| | - Matthew Staymates
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Measurement Laboratory, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
| | - Aaron Urbas
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Measurement Laboratory, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
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Brown KE, Greenfield MT, McGrane SD, Moore DS. Advances in explosives analysis--part I: animal, chemical, ion, and mechanical methods. Anal Bioanal Chem 2015; 408:35-47. [PMID: 26462922 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-015-9040-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Revised: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The number and capability of explosives detection and analysis methods have increased substantially since the publication of the Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry special issue devoted to Explosives Analysis (Moore and Goodpaster, Anal Bioanal Chem 395(2):245-246, 2009). Here we review and critically evaluate the latest (the past five years) important advances in explosives detection, with details of the improvements over previous methods, and suggest possible avenues towards further advances in, e.g., stand-off distance, detection limit, selectivity, and penetration through camouflage or packaging. The review consists of two parts. This part, Part I, reviews methods based on animals, chemicals (including colorimetry, molecularly imprinted polymers, electrochemistry, and immunochemistry), ions (both ion-mobility spectrometry and mass spectrometry), and mechanical devices. Part II will review methods based on photons, from very energetic photons including X-rays and gamma rays down to the terahertz range, and neutrons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E Brown
- Shock and Detonation Physics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Margo T Greenfield
- Shock and Detonation Physics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Shawn D McGrane
- Shock and Detonation Physics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - David S Moore
- Shock and Detonation Physics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA.
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50
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Forbes TP, Sisco E. In-source collision induced dissociation of inorganic explosives for mass spectrometric signature detection and chemical imaging. Anal Chim Acta 2015; 892:1-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2015.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Revised: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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