Identification of Dynamite Explosives in Post Explosion Residues

The investigation of post blast residues of dynamite explosives with respect to the behavior of nitro-aromatic compounds is described. Experimental blasts were performed with free hanging charges. The samples taken from metal plates placed at different distances from the center of the explosion were analyzed by GC-TEA. The results were evaluated with respect to the relative amounts of the dinitrotoluene isomers to each other. The portions of the dinitrotoluenes showed good correspondance in the post blast residues with the original explosives.