Analysis of nitroaromatics and nitramines in ammunition waste water and in aqueous samples from former ammunition plants and other military sites

Waste water from ammunition production sites and aqueous samples on or near former military sites on which explosives were produced or filled may be contaminated by the original explosives but also by by-products and compounds formed by biodegradation of the explosives. These compounds can be extracted from aqueous samples by liquid/liquid extraction or by solid phase extraction. Nitrotoluenes, chlorinated nitrobenzenes and aminonitrotoluenes may be determined by gas chromatography using selective detectors such as an electron capture detector (ECD), a nitrogen-phosphorus detector (NDP) or a chemiluminescence detector. The use of combined gas chromatography/mass spectrometry under electron impact conditions is even more specific. (Abstract truncated)