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Updated: May 26, 2026

Quantitative Detection of Trace Explosive Vapors by Programmed Temperature Desorption Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detector
Published on: July 25, 2014
Extraction of explosives from soil followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis with negative chemical
Erik Holmgren1, Stefan Ek, Anders Colmsjö
1FOI, Swedish Defence Research Agency, Department of Energetic Materials, S-147 25 Tumba, Sweden. erik.holmgren@foi.se
Abstract:
A new, simple and accurate method for extraction of explosives from soil was developed and validated. The method includes one hour gentle extraction of compounds from soil in acetonitrile:dichloromethane 50:50 at 30°C. Further analysis was made with GC-MS using cool on-column injection and negative chemical ionization. The method increased the recovery of the more volatile products, generated higher accuracy and was extensively time-saving compared to the conventional EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) 8330 method. Applications are demonstrated on commercial reference materials.
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