Liquid chromatography of firearms propellants traces

Abstract

Most of the major components of firearms propellants likely to occur on the skin or clothing after the discharge of a firearm may be detected sensitively and with substantial specificity by liquid chromatography methods. The components Include nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin and diphenylamine. Impurities and metabolites of nitroglycerin may occur on the skin. On clothing the traces are strongly persistent. The techniques employed include size-exclusion and high-performance liquid chromatography, with amperometric detection at a mercury drop electrode, and coulometric detection at porous carbon electrodes. Progress in the use of the Thermal Energy Analyser as a complementary technique is reported.