The Malaysian Journal of Analytical
Sciences Vol 15 No 2 (2011): 213 – 226
ANALYSIS OF
ANIONIC POST-BLAST RESIDUES OF LOW EXPLOSIVES FROM SOIL SAMPLES OF FORENSIC
INTEREST
(Analisis Residu
Pasca Letupan Anion Bagi Bahan Letupan Rendah Daripada Sampel Forensik Tanah)
Umi Kalthom Ahmad1, Ong
Shin Tze1, Muhammad Fauzi Ghazali2, Yew Chong Hooi3,
Mohd Koey Abdullah3
1Department
of Chemistry,
Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi
Malaysia,
81310 UTM Skudai, Johor Darul Ta’zim
Criminalistics
Section,
Forensic Division, Department of Chemistry Malaysia,
Jalan Sultan, 46661 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.
PDRM Forensic Laboratory,
8 1/2 mile, Jalan Cheras/Kajang, 43200
Cheras, Selangor.
Abstract
The growing
threats and terrorist activities in recent years have urged the need for rapid
and accurate forensic investigation on post-blast samples. The analysis of
explosives and their degradation products in soils are important to enable
forensic scientist to identify the explosives used in the bombing and establish
possible links to their likely origin. Anions of interest for post-blast
identification of low explosives were detected and identified using ion
chromatography (IC). IC separations of five anions (Cl-, NO2-,
NO3-, SO42-, SCN-)
employed a Metrosep Anion Dual 2 column with carbonate eluent. The anions were
separated within 17 minutes. Sampling of post blast residues was carried out in
Rompin, Pahang. The post-blast explosive residues were extracted from soil
samples collected at the seat of three simulated explosion points. The homemade
explosives comprised of black powder of various amounts (100 g, 150 g and 200
g) packed in small plastic sauce bottles. In black powder standard, three
anions (Cl-, NO3-, SO42-)
were identified. However, low amounts of nitrite (NO2-)
were found present in post-blast soil samples. The amounts of anions were
generally found to be decreased with decreasing amount of black powder
explosive used. The anions analysis was indicative that nitrates were being
used as one of the black powder explosive ingredients.
Keywords: Anions,
homemade low explosives, ion chromatography, black powder, post-blast soil
samples
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