Abstract
Abstract : A method for the analysis of TNT, RDX and HMX explosives in soils and sediments has been developed. It consists of methanol extraction followed by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography using 10% acetonitrile/40% methanol/50% water as the eluant. This method was used to study the effect of various drying techniques upon the recovery of TNT, RDX, and HMX from soil and sediment samples contaminated with high (%) and low (micron g/g) levels of these explosives. For highly contaminated samples, complete recovery of TNT and RDX was obtained using freeze drying while air drying at room temperature resulted in greater than 90% recovery for both explosives. Other techniques, such as oven drying at 105 C, oven drying at 45 C, microwave oven drying, and drying under infrared lamps, all resulted in greater losses, with TNT and RDX recoveries ranging from 76 to 90%. Drying losses were not due to simple volatilization containing low levels of TNT, RDX and HMX, recoveries of all three explosives were quantitative for all the above drying techniques.
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