US EPA

7424731 

Journal Article 

Quantitative analysis of vaporous ammonia by online derivatization with gas chromatography - mass spectrometry with applications to ammonium nitrate-based explosives 

Katilie, CJ; Simon, AG; Degreeff, LE; , 

2019 

1 

Talanta
ISSN: 0039-9140
EISSN: 1873-3573 

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV 

AMSTERDAM 

193 

87-92 

English 

30368302 

10.1016/j.talanta.2018.09.099 

WOS:000449901400013 

https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0039914018310178
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A novel method for the detection of vaporous products was developed utilizing a derivatizing agent collected onto a cryo-cooled gas chromatograph (GC) inlet, with analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The technique was applied to the detection of ammonia, which has been difficult to detect at trace levels, particularly in the presence of other chemical interferents, due to its small mass and high volatility. To address this, the ammonia is derivatized in the inlet with butyl chloroformate to produce butyl carbamate, a compound that is retained by GC columns and compatible with standard GC-MS analysis. This method was then used to quantify the ammonia headspace vapor concentration produced from the dissociation of bulk ammonium nitrate as well as from mixtures with aluminum and petroleum jelly, which are fuels commonly used in homemade explosives (HMEs). 

Ammonia detection; Ammonium nitrate; Headspace derivatization; Headspace sampling; Homemade explosives; Ammonia; Explosives; Explosives detection; Mass spectrometry; Nitrates; Ammonia detection; Ammonium nitrate; Derivatizations; Gas chromatographs; Gas chromatography-mass spectrometries (GC-MS); Headspace sampling; On-line derivatization; Vapor concentrations; Gas chromatography