Determination of nitroaromatic explosives residue at military shooting ranges using a sweeping-MEKC method

We report on the application of sweeping-MEKC, for the first time, using the Environmental Protection Agency Method 8330 stock standard (a mixture of 14 explosives). The use of a traditional MEKC mode provided the LODs (at S/N=3) ranging from 1.5 to 2.9 microg/mL for the 14 explosives standards, which were improved by as low as 3.1-6.5 ng/mL when a sweeping-MEKC technique was used. A set of 21 soil samples were collected from surface soil at military shooting ranges located at Kinmen County in Taiwan, and the findings showed that hexahydro-1,3,5-trini-tro-1,3,5-triazine and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene made up the explosives residue present at the highest concentrations. This study is very useful for determining current levels of explosives residue and as a reference for making appropriate recommendations concerning future site characterization techniques.