Ninart Boonprempree. Analysis of compositions in ammonium nitrate fuel oil explosive based on fertilizer compounds. Master's Degree(Forensic Science). Kasetsart University. Office of the University Library. : Kasetsart University, 2020.
Analysis of compositions in ammonium nitrate fuel oil explosive based on fertilizer compounds
Abstract:
Urea fertilizer, as an oxidizing agent in combination with fuel oil at a particular proportion, is capable of delivering a lethal output. This is commonly called ANFO or Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil. Although the oxidizer is not ammonium nitrate, this is the preferred term for this type of fertilizer-based explosive. Separately, urea fertilizer and analytical reagent grade urea were blended with single-source diesel fuel at a ratio of 95:5% by weight. The mixtures were extracted with dichloromethane and analyzed with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS), and the Dumas method for total nitrogen. FTIR can qualitatively verify some functional groups, but this is insufficient for differentiation. ICP-OES is capable of determining impurities such as certain heavy metals and can be analytically useful for differentiation and classification. The analytical reagent grade urea contains 444.5 microgram per liter calcium (Ca), which is obviously higher than in the other three [B1] samples. Chromium (Cr) contaminants was found in all three brands of urea fertilizer but was below the Limit of Detection (LOD) in the analytical reagent grade urea. Using these two elements, the urea fertilizer brand C could be distinguished by 31.16 microgram per liter of calcium and 3.327 microgram per liter of chromium. The GC-MS detected Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) and hexamethylene glycol which aided the classification. Finally, the Dumas technique for total nitrogen percent gave no useful differences.
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