https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2001/an/b107354k/unauth#!

divAbstract

Development of an LC/MS method for the trace

analysis of hexamethylenetriperoxidediamine
(HMTD)©Crown copyright 2001/DSTL — published
with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's
Stationery Office.
Andrew Crowson*a  and  Matthew S. Beardaha  
 Author affiliations

Abstract

The detection and quantification of trace amounts of

hexamethylenetriperoxidediamine (HMTD), a primary organic peroxide explosive, is
investigated by LC/MS. LC/MS is well suited to the analysis of explosive compounds,
such as HMTD, that are thermally labile. This property of HMTD has prevented other
chromatography separation techniques, such as GC/MS, from being successfully
employed for the analysis of HMTD. In this paper, the development of an LC/MS
method capable of detecting trace quantities of HMTD is described. Potentially, the
method is capable of being used to detect a lower detection limit of 20 pg µl −1 (2 ng
per 100 µl) of HMTD. In comparison to other chromatography separation techniques
that are used for analysis of explosives and explosive mixtures, e.g. GC/MS and
GC/TEA, this represents an extremely valuable technique.