Comparison of Cartridge and Membrane Solid-Phase Extraction with Salting-Out Solvent Extraction for Preconcentration of Nitroaromatic and Nitramine Explosives from Water

Abstract

Salting-out solvent extraction (SOE) was compared with cartridge and membrane solid phase extraction (SPE) for preconcentration of nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives from water, prior to reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic analysis (RP-HPLC). The procedures were compared initially using reagent grade water fortified with TNT, RDX, HMX and nine other analytes at concentrations below what could be determined without preconcentration and the results were used to estimate analyte recovery and the low concentration detection capability, as characterized by the Certified Reporting Limit (CRL). CRLs for the three procedures were comparable with values generally in the range of 0.05 to 0.30 jig/L. Percentage recoveries for the three procedures were generally greater than 90%, except for those of HMX and RDX obtained by the membrane-SPE procedure. A second comparison among the three procedures was obtained on 58 groundwater samples from the Rockeye site at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana. Results from a direct analysis procedure were compared to those from the three preconcentration techniques to estimate percent recovery of HMX, RDX and TNT for real samples. Recoveries were greater than 80% except for HMX and RDX by the membrane-SPE method. Both SPE procedures exhibited background interferences, which the authors attribute to matrix interaction with the SPE polymers. Usability of the three procedures in a production-oriented laboratory was evaluated with emphasis on solvent consumption, waste production and sample processing time. The cartridge-SPE was judged to be the least rugged of the three procedures.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA260177

Entities

People

  • Ann B. Strong
  • Erika F. Mccormick
  • Karen F. Myers
  • Paul H. Miyares
  • Thomas F. Jenkins

Organizations

  • Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Counter IED
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Analysis
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Chlorides
  • Chromatography
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Environmental Protection
  • Explosives
  • Groundwater
  • Liquid Chromatography
  • Materials
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Organic Compounds
  • Solid Phases
  • Solvent Extraction
  • Surface Warfare

Readers

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Rocket Propulsion.