Application of selected-ion flow tube mass spectrometry to the real-time detection of triacetone triperoxide.

A fast, efficient, real-time method for the quantitative analysis of the peroxide explosive, TATP, is described. The method utilizes rapid ion-molecule reactions of chemical reagent ions with the vapor above solid TATP. The reactions of three reagent ions (H3O+, O2+, NO+) were examined. Although all three ions exhibited a near-collision-rate reaction with TATP, only NO+ showed product ions that provide unequivocal evidence for a TATP-based explosive. The limit of detection of TATP in the gas phase is 10 ppb (4 x 10(-10) mol L(-1)).