Patent ID: 9465013
Filing Date: 2016-10-11
CPC Classification: G01N

Claim Text:
1. A liquid chromatographic method for separation of mixtures comprising at least a first explosive compound and a second explosive compound, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sample comprising at least said first and second explosive compounds, wherein said first explosive compound is a nitroaromatic and said second explosive compound is selected from the group consisting of nitroguanidine (NQ) and nitrotriazalone (NTO), (b) combining said sample with an initial acidic carrier solvent to form a sample solution, said initial acidic carrier solvent comprising less than about 99 % by volume water and alcohol, acetonitrile in an amount ranging from about 0% to about 5% by volume, and 1% or less by volume of an acidic component, said initial acidic carrier solvent having an initial volume % water and a corresponding initial volume % alcohol, based upon the composition of the initial acidic carrier solvent, (c) passing said sample solution through a liquid chromatography column, (d) continuously lowering said initial volume % water to a final volume % water and a corresponding final volume % alcohol, while continuing to pass acidic carrier solvent through said liquid chromatography column, such that a solvent gradient is established during said method, and (e) separating said at least two explosive compounds in said column.