Analysis of Gun Powder Using Principal Component Analysis, Infrared Spectroscopy, External Standard Method, GC/MS
Disciplines
Analytical Chemistry | Other Chemistry
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Gun powders are very volatile and explosive mixtures of organic and inorganic compounds. These powders were grinded up into an almost rubber material which can have infrared light pass through the mixtures and record the vibrational nodes of certain functional groups. These recordings were then be placed onto a principal component analysis chart to see any direct correlation among other gun powders and show eigenvalues of the substances within the powders. The powders were then dissolved in acetone, and injected into a chromatography machine, which separates compounds based on its mass to charge ratio. This instrument allows for deeper analysis into the eigenvalues present in each substance, and can point to the compounds of interest. These compounds were then standardized, and peak area values are found via the chromatogram given by the GC/MS which can give an external calibration equation for the compound. These calibration equations are key to approximating concentrations of the organic compounds that were found within the gun powders.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CSM - Chemistry and Biochemistry
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Christopher Dockery
Analysis of Gun Powder Using Principal Component Analysis, Infrared Spectroscopy, External Standard Method, GC/MS
Gun powders are very volatile and explosive mixtures of organic and inorganic compounds. These powders were grinded up into an almost rubber material which can have infrared light pass through the mixtures and record the vibrational nodes of certain functional groups. These recordings were then be placed onto a principal component analysis chart to see any direct correlation among other gun powders and show eigenvalues of the substances within the powders. The powders were then dissolved in acetone, and injected into a chromatography machine, which separates compounds based on its mass to charge ratio. This instrument allows for deeper analysis into the eigenvalues present in each substance, and can point to the compounds of interest. These compounds were then standardized, and peak area values are found via the chromatogram given by the GC/MS which can give an external calibration equation for the compound. These calibration equations are key to approximating concentrations of the organic compounds that were found within the gun powders.