Characterization Of Commonly Encountered Explosives Using Highfield Asymmetric Waveform Ion Mobility Spectrometry Coupled With Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

The goal of this research was to characterize explosive compounds using high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) as an ion separation device interface to a mass spectrometer (MS). FAIMS is a relatively recently developed technology that is promising adding a dimension of separation. This method was employed in such a way as to be conducive to possible future development of field instruments (e.g., use of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI)). In addition, several experiments were conducted with the application of this method, mainly dealing with optimization of the instrument parameters. These experiments led to the development of a new method: high-resolution FAIMS. An ion mobility spectrometer was used as a desolvation and ion focusing device to drastically improve FAIMS resolution. This allowed for the separation of mixtures that otherwise could not have been separated. The resolution was high enough that isomers of the same explosive were successfully resolved. This can be beneficial to forensics studies.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA468495

Entities

People

  • Jared J. Boock

Organizations

  • University of Florida

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter IED
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Electrospray Ionization
  • Explosions
  • Explosive Devices
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal
  • Explosives
  • Explosives Detection
  • High Explosives
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Spectrometry
  • Waveform Generators
  • Waveforms

Fields of Study

  • Chemistry

Readers

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Semiconductor Device Technology
  • Systems Analysis and Design