Rapid separation of nitroaromatic compounds by solvating gas chromatography

Nitroaromatic compounds such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene are used in the production of explosive and munitions, and are environmental contaminants as a result of such use. Conventional methods to detect these compounds have relied on liquid and gas chromatography to isolate the individual compounds which may be present at low levels in complex environmental matrices before final detection and identification. A new method, solvating gas chromatography, was used to rapidly separate 8 nitroaromatic compounds, showing improved speed relative to conventional liquid and gas chromatography methods. Solvating gas chromatography allows near real-time detection for these energetic compounds, providing improvements in their detection as environmental contaminants, and as compounds of interest to law enforcement and military organizations.