Problems of Forensic Sciences 2007 Vol. 69 (LXIX) 5-29
A REVIEW OF METHODS OF PREPARING SAMPLES FOR CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS FOR THE PRESENCE OF ORGANIC EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES
Rafał BORUSIEWICZ
Institute of Forensic Research, Krakow
Streszczenie
The issue of identification and determination of explosives has especially great significance nowadays. The main reason is the threat from terrorist attacks. The toxicity of most explosive substances means that they are also the subject of environmental analyses. Explosive substances are usually detected/determined with the help of chromatographic methods. The most difficult stage of the analytical process is appropriate preparation of samples – in such a way as to selectively isolate the analysed compounds from the matrix and concentrate them. A review of the procedures for preparing samples indicates that methods of solid phase extraction are most frequently used for this purpose, especially in the form of solid phase microextraction (SPME). In the case of analysis of water and liquid waste, this method allows us to isolate analytes directly from the sample. In the case of analysis of solid samples (e.g. material from the scene of an explosion, polluted soil, sediments, plant material, samples of dust on filters), the first stage of preparation is usually solvent extraction. In the extract obtained in this way, numerous interfering compounds are usually present, which is why the second stage of the process of preparation is application of SPME. Appropriate selection of a fibre allows selective adsorption of analytes and elimination in this way of the influence of interferents.
Słowa kluczowe
Organic explosives; Chromatographic analysis; Sample preparation methods; Extraction; SPE; SPME; SDME.