Characterizing nitrocellulose by nitration degree and molecular weight: A user-friendly yet powerful forensic comparison method for smokeless powders

IF 2.6 3区医学 Q2 CHEMISTRY, ANALYTICAL

Forensic Chemistry Pub Date : 2024-12-24 DOI:10.1016/j.forc.2024.100637

Rick S. van den Hurk , Ids B. Lemmink , Jade R. van Schaik , Annemieke W.C. Hulsbergen , Ron A.H. Peters , Bob W.J. Pirok , Arian C. van Asten

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Abstract

Smokeless powders (SPs) are commonly used as propellant for ammunition but are also used as explosive component in improvised explosive devices. Therefore, its chemical characterization is of high importance when reporting forensic explosives investigations to a court of law. While conventional analytical strategies focus on the characterization of the additives in SPs, only few methods consider the main explosive component in SP, nitrocellulose (NC).

In this study, a user-friendly analytical method was developed for characterizing NC in SPs. The method employs size-exclusion chromatography combined with ultraviolet (UV) and refractive index (RI) detection. Through the size separation, the SP additives are separated from the polymeric NC because of their lower molecular weight. The novel part of the system lies in the simultaneous measurement of the molecular-weight distribution (MWD) and the nitration degree, thus boosting the discriminating power obtained from a single analysis. The combined use of two detectors enables a highly specific analysis, because the ratio between the UV and RI signal intensities is directly correlated with the nitration degree of NC. Characterizing the nitrocellulose demonstrated high discriminating powers of 98.95 % for the MWD and 92.65 % for the nitration degree using a set of 20 SP products. Combined, all sample pairs in our sample set could be distinguished.

The proposed method is not limited to product classification that is obtained from additive profiles, and potentially offers individualization at batch level. This method provides high discriminating power while requiring little financial investment with regards to instrumentation and maintenance.

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来源期刊

Forensic Chemistry CHEMISTRY, ANALYTICAL-

CiteScore

5.70

自引率

14.80%

发文量

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Forensic Chemistry publishes high quality manuscripts focusing on the theory, research and application of any chemical science to forensic analysis. The scope of the journal includes fundamental advancements that result in a better understanding of the evidentiary significance derived from the physical and chemical analysis of materials. The scope of Forensic Chemistry will also include the application and or development of any molecular and atomic spectrochemical technique, electrochemical techniques, sensors, surface characterization techniques, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, chemometrics and statistics, and separation sciences (e.g. chromatography) that provide insight into the forensic analysis of materials. Evidential topics of interest to the journal include, but are not limited to, fingerprint analysis, drug analysis, ignitable liquid residue analysis, explosives detection and analysis, the characterization and comparison of trace evidence (glass, fibers, paints and polymers, tapes, soils and other materials), ink and paper analysis, gunshot residue analysis, synthetic pathways for drugs, toxicology and the analysis and chemistry associated with the components of fingermarks. The journal is particularly interested in receiving manuscripts that report advances in the forensic interpretation of chemical evidence. Technology Readiness Level: When submitting an article to Forensic Chemistry, all authors will be asked to self-assign a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) to their article. The purpose of the TRL system is to help readers understand the level of maturity of an idea or method, to help track the evolution of readiness of a given technique or method, and to help filter published articles by the expected ease of implementation in an operation setting within a crime lab.