Analysis of CL-20 and TNAZ in the presence of other nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives using HPLC with photodiode array (PDA) detection

Abstract Several new explosives (CL-20 and TNAZ) have recently attracted attention as possible replacements for various explosive compounds. If these compounds become heavily used they may eventually come under regulation. A method for the analysis of CL-20 and TNAZ in the presence of 14 nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives and their degradation products currently included in EPA SW-846, Method 8330 has been developed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Photodiode array (PDA) detection was employed for peak identification and confirmation. Analysis times of less than 30 minutes was achieved using an isocratic HPLC mobile phase of water and isopropanol.