Analytical Characterization of Erythritol Tetranitrate,an Improvised Explosive |
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| Authors: | Robert Matyáš PhD Antonín Lyčka DrSc Robert Jirásko PhD Zdeněk Jakový PhD Jaroslav Maixner CSc Linda Mišková MSc Martin Künzel MSc |
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| Institution: | 1. Faculty of Chemical Technology, Institute of Energetic Materials, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic;2. Research Institute for Organic Syntheses (VUOS), Pardubice, Czech Republic;3. Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove 3, Czech Republic;4. Faculty of Chemical Technology, Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic;5. University of Chemistry and Technology, Praha 6, Czech Republic;6. Laboratory of Molecular Spectroscopy, University of Chemistry and Technology, Praha 6, Czech Republic |
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| Abstract: | Erythritol tetranitrate (ETN), an ester of nitric acid and erythritol, is a solid crystalline explosive with high explosive performance. Although it has never been used in any industrial or military application, it has become one of the most prepared and misused improvise explosives. In this study, several analytical techniques were explored to facilitate analysis in forensic laboratories. FTIR and Raman spectrometry measurements expand existing data and bring more detailed assignment of bands through the parallel study of erythritol 15N4] tetranitrate. In the case of powder diffraction, recently published data were verified, and 1H, 13C, and 15N NMR spectra are discussed in detail. The technique of electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was successfully used for the analysis of ETN. Described methods allow fast, versatile, and reliable detection or analysis of samples containing erythritol tetranitrate in forensic laboratories. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science erythritol tetranitrate erythritol [15N4] tetranitrate forensic analysis improvised explosive NMR FTIR and Raman spectrometry mass spectrometry X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy |
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