Fate of explosive contaminants in plants

A great deal of interest has been generated recently in the determination of explosives and explosives by-products in exotic matrices including composts, bioslurries, and plants. The methods traditionally utilized for the analysis of organic and inorganic contaminants in these types of environmental samples are not adequate owing to the unique properties of the material being studied. The methods used to detect the nitramines and their degradation products in a variety of environmental samples requires matrix-specific sample preparation, separation by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography, and ultra-violet detection. Knowledge of the concentration of the contaminants and the molecular state of their degradation products is helpful in assessing the environmental risks associated with the contaminants as well as the design of remediation technologies. Data that are obtained using analytical methods not designed for the specific matrix encountered may lead to incorrect quantitation. Examples of remediation technologies that necessitate the analysis of other than standard matrices for explosives include composting, aerobic and anaerobic microbial degradation, and plant-assisted degradation. The toxicity and mobility of explosives in the food chain are also of interest, and analytical techniques for studying explosives in plant and animal tissues that provide valid information regarding trace levels in these matrices are also required. The report will address three important points in connection with the problem. The extraction of the contaminants from the matrix requires a different set of extraction techniques than those utilized for standard water and soil extractions. These exotic matrices contain much higher organic content than soil or water and, as a result, are prone to interference from biological molecules.