Simultaneous analysis of sixteen energetic nitro compounds and their degradation products in groundwaters and surface waters by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography

An analytical method based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection for the simultaneous separation and determination of nitroaromatics, nitramines, and nitrate esters in aqueous environmental samples was developed. The modification of a preconcentration step b...

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Main Authors: Alen Albreht, Anja Koroša
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-01-01
Series:Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590182625000384
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author Alen Albreht
Anja Koroša
author_facet Alen Albreht
Anja Koroša
author_sort Alen Albreht
collection DOAJ
description An analytical method based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection for the simultaneous separation and determination of nitroaromatics, nitramines, and nitrate esters in aqueous environmental samples was developed. The modification of a preconcentration step based on solid phase extraction proved crucial for avoiding the frequently occurring measurement bias. The fully validated method has a range spanning four orders of magnitude and enables a precise, accurate, and sensitive determination of species down to a concentration of 0.3 μg/L. The method's applicability was demonstrated by quantifying energetic materials and their degradation products in nine groundwater and nine surface water samples, obtained from a single sampling campaign of Slovenian aquifers. Three contaminants, namely 1,3-dinitrobenzene (1,3-DNB), 2-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (2A-DNT), or pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), were detected in 5 of the 18 samples. The measured concentrations of nitro compounds were low, with the exception of the Mura River, where PETN exceeded 1 μg/L. The anthropogenic origin of the pollution observed for this part of Europe must be linked to the (un)exploded ordnance from both World Wars. However, the presence of 1,3-DNB and 2A-DNT in the Pivka River is also likely to be associated with regular military activities in the area.
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spelling doaj-art-2292f991a6bb4fab91bd97c3a7ae941a2025-08-20T02:27:57ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology2590-18262025-01-01775376110.1016/j.enceco.2025.04.002Simultaneous analysis of sixteen energetic nitro compounds and their degradation products in groundwaters and surface waters by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatographyAlen Albreht0Anja Koroša1Laboratory for Food Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Corresponding author.Department of Hydrogeology, Geological Survey of Slovenia, Dimičeva 14, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaAn analytical method based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection for the simultaneous separation and determination of nitroaromatics, nitramines, and nitrate esters in aqueous environmental samples was developed. The modification of a preconcentration step based on solid phase extraction proved crucial for avoiding the frequently occurring measurement bias. The fully validated method has a range spanning four orders of magnitude and enables a precise, accurate, and sensitive determination of species down to a concentration of 0.3 μg/L. The method's applicability was demonstrated by quantifying energetic materials and their degradation products in nine groundwater and nine surface water samples, obtained from a single sampling campaign of Slovenian aquifers. Three contaminants, namely 1,3-dinitrobenzene (1,3-DNB), 2-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (2A-DNT), or pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), were detected in 5 of the 18 samples. The measured concentrations of nitro compounds were low, with the exception of the Mura River, where PETN exceeded 1 μg/L. The anthropogenic origin of the pollution observed for this part of Europe must be linked to the (un)exploded ordnance from both World Wars. However, the presence of 1,3-DNB and 2A-DNT in the Pivka River is also likely to be associated with regular military activities in the area.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590182625000384Nitro compoundsExplosivesPropellantsDegradationWaterSolid phase extraction
spellingShingle Alen Albreht
Anja Koroša
Simultaneous analysis of sixteen energetic nitro compounds and their degradation products in groundwaters and surface waters by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography
Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology
Nitro compounds
Explosives
Propellants
Degradation
Water
Solid phase extraction
title Simultaneous analysis of sixteen energetic nitro compounds and their degradation products in groundwaters and surface waters by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography
title_full Simultaneous analysis of sixteen energetic nitro compounds and their degradation products in groundwaters and surface waters by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography
title_fullStr Simultaneous analysis of sixteen energetic nitro compounds and their degradation products in groundwaters and surface waters by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography
title_full_unstemmed Simultaneous analysis of sixteen energetic nitro compounds and their degradation products in groundwaters and surface waters by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography
title_short Simultaneous analysis of sixteen energetic nitro compounds and their degradation products in groundwaters and surface waters by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography
title_sort simultaneous analysis of sixteen energetic nitro compounds and their degradation products in groundwaters and surface waters by ultra high performance liquid chromatography
topic Nitro compounds
Explosives
Propellants
Degradation
Water
Solid phase extraction
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590182625000384
work_keys_str_mv AT alenalbreht simultaneousanalysisofsixteenenergeticnitrocompoundsandtheirdegradationproductsingroundwatersandsurfacewatersbyultrahighperformanceliquidchromatography
AT anjakorosa simultaneousanalysisofsixteenenergeticnitrocompoundsandtheirdegradationproductsingroundwatersandsurfacewatersbyultrahighperformanceliquidchromatography