Subsampling Variance For 2,4-DNT in Firing Point Soils
Abstract
At 105-mm howitzer firing points, 2,4-DNT is detectable in the surface soils, but field sampling and laboratory subsampling uncertainty can be large during quantitation. The 2,4-DNT is in particulate form, within fibers or slivers of the nitrocellulose-based propellant. The slender fibers range up to 7.5 mm in length with masses of several 100 μg. Size fractionation of a firing point soil revealed that most of the 2,4-DNT was in the 0.595- to 2.00-mm size range, although the bulk of the soil was less than 0.6mmprior to grinding. Machine grinding for five minutes was needed to pulverize the propellant fibers sufficiently so that estimates of 2,4-DNT were reproducible in replicate analytical subsamples. To determine 2,4-DNT, we have adopted the practice of grinding firing point soils for five one-minute intervals, with time for heat dissipation between grinds prior to obtaining individual or replicate 10-g subsamples.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA579902
Entities
People
- A. D. Hewitt
- C. A. Ramsey
- C. M. Collins
- K. Bjella
- M. E. Walsh
- Shalina Taylor
Organizations
- Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory