Award Date

1-1-2001

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Environmental Science

First Committee Member

Shawn L. Gerstenberger

Number of Pages

99

Abstract

Nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives have been found in the soil and water from many government military bases due to improper storage, weapons testing and production. Run-off from contaminated soil and water can enter underground water and potentially contaminate drinking water for near-by communities. With the closing of military bases throughout the U.S. and Europe, contamination will need to be assessed and remediated before the land and water can be used again for other purposes. The use of a fast and inexpensive field screening technique can save time and money typically incurred during intensive laboratory analysis of clean samples; Screen-printed thick film electrodes are examined as voltammetric sensors for measurement of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT), and Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). The square wave voltammetric (SWV) scan technique can be used to measure TNT and RDX in as little as 50 muL sample volumes applied to the electrode surface within minutes. The detection limit of this electrochemical assay can also be significantly improved by coupling it with a solid phase extraction (SPE) protocol using Empore SDB-RPS membranes. The simple, rapid, cost-effective, and sensitive characteristics of this assay make it an excellent candidate for development as a field analytical method for onsite explosives detection. This research project successfully developed a new method to examine the capabilities, use and optimization of screen-printed carbon electrodes for detection of TNT, RDX and metabolites from various matrices.

Keywords

Carbon; Detection; Disposable; Electrochemical; Electrodes; Explosives; Printed; Screen; Techniques; Tnt

Controlled Subject

Environmental sciences; Chemistry, Analytic

File Format

pdf

File Size

2252.8 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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