We detect trace residues of RDX and TNT by surface photofragmentation fragment detection in real time at ambient conditions. An infrared or visible laser generates signature, NO molecular fragments, and a second, low energy, ultraviolet laser facilitates their detection by resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization. We present the effects of pump laser wavelength, laser energy, delay timing betw...

Ultraviolet excitation (8-ns duration) is employed to study the decomposition of RDX (1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane) and HMX (1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazacyclooctane) from their first excited electronic states. Isolated RDX and HMX are generated in the gas phase utilizing a combination of matrix-assisted laser desorption and supersonic jet expansion techniques. The NO molecule is...

The biodegradation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) in liquid cultures with municipal anaerobic sludge showed that at least two degradation routes were involved in the disappearance of the cyclic nitramine. In one route, RDX was reduced to give the familiar nitroso derivatives hexahydro-1-nitroso-3,5-dinitro-1,3, 5-triazine (MNX) and hexahydro-1,3-dinitroso-5-nitro-1,3,5-triazin...

The terahertz spectrum of the explosive RDX has been measured using a conventional Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and by terahertz pulse spectroscopy in transmission and reflection modes. Seven absorption features in the spectral range 5–120 cm have been observed and identified as the fingerprints of RDX explosive. Furthermore, a sample consisting of RDX-based explosive, mounted side b...

The Fluorescence sensing technique for trace detection of High Energy Materials (HEMs) has gained more attention in recent times. In the present paper, interaction between fluorophore and HEMs is studied using spectroscopic electrochemical techniques. polyaniline (PANI) was functionalised by doping it with benzenesulfonic acid (BSA) to increase processability, mobility ?-electrons along decreas...

Previously we demonstrated that Rhodococcus sp. strain DN22 can degrade RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine) aerobically via initial denitration. The present study describes the role of oxygen and water in the key denitration step leading to RDX decomposition using (18)O(2) and H(2)(18)O labeling experiments. We also investigated degradation of MNX (hexahydro-1-nitroso-3,5-dinitro-1,3,...

Hybrid functional theory is applied for calculation of band gaps in the molecular crystals anthracene, pentaerythritol (PE), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), and cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX). The B3LYP hybrid functional is observed to produce band gap estimates in reasonable agreement with experiment for anthracene and RDX. This approach, which has been successfully used recently fo...