Characterization of the explosive triacetone triperoxide and detection by ion mobility spectrometry

• Published in: Forensic science international 2003-07, Vol.135 (1), p.53-59
• Main Authors: Buttigieg, Gavin A., Knight, Andrew K., Denson, Stephen, Pommier, Carolyn, Bonner Denton, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetone - analogs & derivatives; Acetone - chemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Colleges & universities; Experiments; Forensic sciences; Gases; Hydrogen peroxide; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS); Ions; Medical sciences; Methods; Miscellaneous. Technology; Nitrogen; NMR; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Peroxides - chemical synthesis; Peroxides - chemistry; Raman; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Spectrum Analysis, Raman; Suicide bombings; Triacetone triperoxide (TATP)
• ISSN: 0379-0738; 1872-6283
• DOI: 10.1016/S0379-0738(03)00175-0

The improvised explosive triacetone triperoxide (TATP) was synthesized and characterized by 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C-NMR, Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Triacetone triperoxide was subsequently analyzed by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) in positive ion mode, and detected as a cluster of three peaks with a drift time of the most intense peak at 13.06 ms. Triacetone triperoxide was then analyzed after dissolution in toluene, where a dramatic increase in peak intensity was observed, at a flight time of 12.56 ms ( K 0=2.71 cm 2 V −1 s −1). Triacetone triperoxide was subsequently analyzed by coupling the ion mobility spectrometer to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, where a single peak at m/ z of 223 atomic mass units identified the species present in the ion mobility spectra as being triacetone triperoxide.