Advanced Solution for the Desensitization of Peroxide Explosives

Homemade peroxide explosives, such as triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD), were often used in the terrorist attacks due to their easy synthesis with commercial available household chemicals. Both substances react sensitively to impact, friction, heat and sparks and even small quantities are associated with high risk, even if they are wet. Because of this, it is highly desirable to be able to reduce the friction and impact sensitivity for minimizing the risks when handling these compounds. It is a big issue to use these peroxide explosives in the field of analysis and detection because of their high safety risk. The aim was to develop a modification procedure with the help of which TATP or HMTD can be converted into a safe form for handling. In addition, the use of the desensitized peroxide explosives in the training of explosive detection dogs is being considered, which is why the modification procedures should not influence the olfactory impression of the organic peroxides in order to avoid imprinting for an additional substance. While conventional safe handling variants are provided for the handling in mg range, this desensitized TATP and HMTD allows the handling with significant amounts of peroxide explosives.