Title:Forensic Analysis of Pentaerythritol Tetra Nitrate from the Real Samples of Detonating Cord
Volume: 3
Author(s): Rahul Sharma*Shailendra Kumar
Affiliation:
- Central Forensic Science Laboratory (Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India), Department of Chemistry and Toxicology, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
Keywords:
Forensic analysis, spot tests, detonating cord, pentaerythritol tetra nitrate, thin layer chromatography, attenuated total reflectance - fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, detonating cord.
Abstract:
Introduction: In forensic chemistry, the examination of evidence collected from explosion
sites continues to be a significant field of research, driven by the growing need for enhanced
homeland security in response to terrorist and warfare risks. A terrorist arranges a detonation cord
to place a charge on an improvised explosive device. In India, detonating cords are widely utilized
in mining. Pentaerythritol tetra nitrate (PETN) is the most exploitable high explosive used as an explosive
core within the plastic covering of detonating cord. There has been significant attention given
to the detection of PETN as an explosive because of concerns related to military and public safety.
Objective: The rapid detection of PETN has become increasingly important in real crime samples
because of its low vapor pressure and thermal liability. The main objective of the present study was
to rapidly identifying PETN in crime samples (intact and defused detonating cord) of forensic laboratories
using chromatography and spectroscopy methods.
Methods: Spot tests, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and Attenuated Total Reflectance - Fourier
Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy methods were used to indentify PETN
in intact and disposed form of detonating cord.
Results and Discussion: PETN was been preliminary detected in spot tests and TLC. As ATRFTIR
do not use high temperature or thermal desorption, it was used in present study for confirmation
of PETN in seized real crime samples of detonating cord in intact and disposed form.
Conclusion: The integration of multiple techniques enhances detection reliability in forensic chemistry.
ATR-FTIR spectroscopy proved to be an important technique without the use of other chemical/
other instrumental analysis and easily classify among different samples received for the forensic
opinion.
