Analysis of explosive residues by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is complicated by the unstable nature of the compounds themselves, which tend to decompose in the injection port. The use of a pressure-temperature programmable vaporizing inlet can overcome many of these limitations; however, certain components, particularly HMX, have proved difficult to analyze by GC/MS, making this technique incomplete for analysis of the compounds listed in US EPA Method 8095. Therefore, an alternate injection technique was investigated, using true automated cold-on-column injection.

This method offers excellent specificity and sensitivity for the analysis of 17 explosives by the DSQ single quadrupole GC/MS.  On-column injection without secondary cooling was sufficiently gentle to prevent compound degradation in the injection port, peak shape was satisfactory, and detection in the pg/µL range for all compounds was successfully achieved.

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