Quantitative Detection of Hexamethylene Triperoxide Diamine in Complex Matrix by Dopant-assisted Photoionization Ion Mobility Spectrometry

Abstract

Abstract Hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD), a kind of novel organic peroxide explosives, is often used in terrorist attacks due to its easy synthesis from readily available starting materials. To counteract this new type of threat, a dopant-assisted positive photoionization ion mobility spectrometer was developed on the basis of a nonradioactive ionization source, i.e., vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) lamp, for the determination of HMTD. Toluene, acetone and 2-butanone were tested as dopants, with acetone finally chosen as the optimal dopant for the quantitative detection of HMTD in a perfume matrix. With mass spectrometry, the reactant ions of acetone and the product ions of HMTD were assigned. The reactant ions of acetone were proton dimer [(CH 3 ) 2 CO] 2 H + ( m / z 117), while the product ions of HMTD were proton molecular ion [HMTD + H] + ( m / z 209). With both the drift tube and the thermal desorber temperature under 120 °C, the HMTD standard samples were quantified with the maximum signal intensity and the 10 th second signal intensity, the measurement linear was in the range of 5−50 ng μL −1 and 5−100 ng μL −1 , and the limit of detection (LOD) was achieved at 0.2 and 0.3 ng μL −1 , respectively. Cosmetics such as perfume often interfere and inhibit the measurement of ion mobility spectrometry of the explosives. Therefore, the detection of HMTD in a perfume matrix for the rapid screening and detection of HMTD on-site was of realistic significance. These two quantitative methods were used for the quantitative detection of HMTD in three different brands of perfume samples. By comparison, the method using the 10 th second signal intensity of HMTD for the quantitative detection has a better recovery rate and accuracy for HMTD. This method was suitable for the accurate and rapid quantitative detection of HMTD in a complex matrix.