Validation and application of an IC-ESI-MS method for low-weight cations, for the chemical profiling of inorganic explosives and pyrotechnics.

Fireworks are a serious topic of discussion in the Netherlands. The misuse of fireworks is a big issue in the country that has to be reduced and eventually stopped. In an attempt to help the police in this case, the NFI set out on the development of a new method by IC-ESI-MS for the identification and quantification of 18 low-weight cations for the chemical profiling of inorganic explosives and pyrotechnics. The aim of this study is to validate and apply this new method for the profiling of inorganic explosives and pyrotechnics. The LOD, LOQ, working range and linearity have been studied as part of the validation. The results show an LOD as low as 1 ppb and a correlation coefficient of > 0.995. In addition, the validated method was applied to a set of eight different commercial fireworks have been studied for their cationic composition in three stages: intact, post explosion and after burning. Up to four cationic profiles of the fuses, six cationic profiles of the powders and five cationic profiles of the post blast residues have been set up. Based on the cationic profile of each item, we might be able to individualize samples.