TITLE:
Organic Explosive Residues from Demining Sites in Amuru District, Northern Uganda
AUTHORS:
Jimmy Ocaya, Beatrice Arwenyo, Acaye Ongwech, Proscovia Nnamuyomba, Alfonse Opio, Harriet Angwech, Jaffar Kisitu
KEYWORDS:
Organic Explosives, Eco-Toxicity, Detonation, Chromatography, Validation
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.13 No.3,
March
13,
2025
ABSTRACT: The study investigated the occurrence of explosive compounds at four demining sites in Amuru District, Northern Uganda. The concentrations of explosive compounds octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX), 2,4,6-Trinitrophenyl-n-methylnitramine (tetryl), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,6-dinitrotoluene (2,6-DNT), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), nitroglycerin (NG) and Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) in soil samples collected from the demining sites were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (LC-MSMS-APCI). The LC-MSMS-APCI method was optimized and validated. The validation parameters included were accuracy, precision, recovery, linearity, selectivity, limits of detection, and limits of quantification. The limit of detection and quantification of the target analytes ranged from 4.5 - 32.1 ng·mL−1 and 17 - 102.9 ng·mL−1, respectively. Recovery of the target analytes from the soil samples ranged from 76% - 96%. The intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision values of below 15% indicated that the target analytes could be determined with reasonable accuracy and precision using the optimized method. The target analyte concentrations in soil samples ranged from 24.6 to 551.8 μg·g−1 with RDX and TNT being dominant. All the soil samples analyzed had explosive residue concentrations higher than the set chemical contamination values set by the US EPA PRGs Region 9 for Soil Screening Levels.