Forensic Analysis and Differentiation of Black Powder and Black Powder Substitute Chemical Signatures by Infrared Thermal Desorption-DART-MS.

ABSTRACT: The trace detection and forensic analysis of black powders and black powder substitutes, directly from wipe-based sample collections, was demonstrated using infrared thermal desorption (IRTD) coupled with direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS). Discrete 15 s heating ramps were generated, creating a thermal desorption profile that desorbed more volatile species (e.g., organic and semivolatile inorganic compounds) at lower temperatures (250-400 °C) and nonvolatile inorganic oxidizers at high temperatures (450-550 °C). Common inorganic components of black powders (e.g., sulfur and potassium nitrate) as well as the alternative and additional organic and inorganic components of common black powder substitutes (e.g., dicyandiamide, ascorbic acid, sodium benzoate, guanidine nitr

SUBMITTER: Forbes TP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6614743 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature