Development of a chemiluminescent method for the determination of peroxide-based explosives

TATP (Triacetone triperoxide) and HMTD (Hexamethylene triperoxide diamine) are explosives that contain peroxide groups. This characteristic is responsible for their instability and their frequent use in terrorist attacks is thanks to their simple synthesis, which requires, as reagents, compounds easily available at any supermarket, and can be performed at home. Peroxide explosives are usually analyzed by chromatographic techniques, according to the EPA method N 8330. However, these methods cannot be used on-site to analyze immediately the scene of an explosion. Other methods identify explosives through reactions revealed by spectrophotometric and fluorescent detections, but with low sensitivity and the possibility of false positives results. A chemiluminescent method, providing indirect identification of peroxide explosives, has been developed. By treating them with acidic solutions, explosive residues are decomposed into radical peroxides, which are quantified as substrates of the Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the light-emitting oxidation of Luminol.