Version 1 / Date of Issue: 10.29.15 / Issuing Authority: Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

 OSAC Research Needs Assessment Form 

Title of research need: 

Keywords: 

Submitting subcommittee(s): Date Approved: 

(If SAC review identifies additional subcommittees, add them to the box above.) 

Background information: 

1. Description of research need: 

2. Key bibliographic references relating to this research need: 

3a. In what ways would the research results improve current laboratory capabilities? 

 

Explosions and detonations can produce temperatures of thousands of degrees. As a result, there may be no 

intact explosive remaining in the post-blast residue. This is especially true with low-molecular weight 

explosives, such as liquids--hydrogen peroxide, nitromethane, nitroethane, and EGDN. 

There is a need to determine whether liquid explosives survive detonation intact and where they or their 

residue is most likely to be found at post-blast scenes; if the intact molecule does not survive, a 

characteristic profile permitting reliable identification must be established. 

Tarvin, Megan; McCord, Bruce; Mount, Kelly; Miller, Mark L. “Analysis of hydrogen peroxide field samples by HPLC/FD 

and HPLC/ED in DC mode” Forensic Science International (2011), 209(1-3), 166-172. 

Tarvin, Megan; McCord, Bruce; Mount, Kelly; Sherlach, Katy; Miller, Mark L. “Optimization of two methods for the 

analysis of hydrogen peroxide: High performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and high 

performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection in direct current mode” Journal of Chromatography 

A (2010), 1217(48), 7564-7572. 

Wang, Bin; Lv, Xiu-Liang; Feng, Dawei; Xie, Lin-Hua; Zhang, Jian; Li, Ming; Xie, Yabo; Li, Jian-Rong; Zhou, Hong-Cai 

“Highly Stable Zr(IV)-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks for the Detection and Removal of Antibiotics and Organic 

Explosives in Water” Journal of the American Chemical Society (2016), 138(19), 6204-6216. 

Forensic analysts would be able to more reliably detect and identify liquid explosives in post-blast 

residue. 

Identifying Post-blast Residue of Liquid Explosives

Identification of Post-blast residue, hydrogen peroxide, nitromethane, nitroethane 

Fire Debris & Explosives 5/12/2017 

2017
Version 1 / Date of Issue: 10.29.15 / Issuing Authority: Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

3b. In what ways would the research results improve understanding of the scientific basis for the 

subcommittee(s)? 

3c. In what ways would the research results improve services to the criminal justice system? 

4. Status assessment (I, II, III, or IV): 

This research need has been identified by one or more subcommittees of OSAC and is being provided as an 

informational resource to the community.

Major gap 

in current 

knowledge 

Minor gap 

in current 

knowledge 

No or limited 

current research 

is being 

conducted 

I III 

Existing current 

research is being 

conducted 

II IV 

Forensic analysts would have a peer-reviewed document to cite as the scientific basis for the 

chemical identification of a liquid explosive in post-blast residue. 

Forensic analysts would be able to testify to the chemical identification of a liquid explosive in postblast residue with higher confidence. 

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Version 1 / Date of Issue: 10.29.15 / Issuing Authority: Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

// Approval date: 

(Approval is by majority vote of subcommittee. Once approved, forward to SAC.)

1. Does the SAC agree with the research need? Yes ⃝ No ⃝ 

2. Does the SAC agree with the status assessment? Yes ⃝ No ⃝ 

 

If no, what is the status assessment of the SAC:

Approval date: 

(Approval is by majority vote of SAC. Once approved, forward to NIST for posting.) 

Subcommittee 5/26/2017

SAC 

12Feb2018 [SAC voted yes to both questions]