Quantification and Aging of the Post-Blast Residue of TNT Landmines

Post-blast residues are potential interferents to chemical detection of landmines. To assess the potential problem related to 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), its post-blast residue was identified and quantified. In the first part of this study laboratory-scale samples of TNT (2 g) were detonated in a small-scale explosivity device (SSED) to evaluate the explosive power and collect post-blast residue for chemical analysis. Initiator size was large relative to the TNT charge; thus, issues arose regarding choice of initiator, residue from the initiator and afterburning of TNT. The second part of this study detonated 75g to 150g of military-grade TNT (typical of antipersonnel mines) in 55 gallon barrels containing various witness materials (metal plates, sand, barrel walls, the atmosphere). The witness materials were analyzed for explosive residue. In a third set of tests, 75 g samples of TNT were detonated over soil [from Fort Leonard Wood or Sandia National Laboratory] in an indoor firing chamber (100 m x 4.6 m x 2.7m high). Targeted in these studies were TNT and four explosive related compounds (ERC): 2,4-dintrotoluene (DNT), 1,3-dinitrobenzene (DNB), 2- and 4-aminodinitrotoluene (2ADNT and 4-ADNT). The latter two are microbial degradation products of TNT. Post-blast residue was allowed to age i