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? 

A general method to concentrate an analyte in solution is evaporation, with or without added heat, to remove excess 

solvent. TATP has sufficient volatility that it may evaporate at a rate comparable to that of the solvent. Thus, the 

analyst’s attempt to increase the concentration of TATP to easily detectable levels, may result in the loss of TATP. A 

study is needed to identify the optimal methods of concentrating TATP solutions. 

While HMTD is not volatile like TATP, its thermal stability is so low that a number of common extraction techniques 

may lead to its inadvertent decomposition. 

Thus, with volatile/unstable explosives, the current analytical protocols of concentrating extracts may impede the 

analyst’s ability to identify or even detect the explosive. Research to determine optimal concentration methods is 

needed. 

Fan, W, Young, M, Canino, J, Smith, J, Oxley, J, Almirall, JR “Fast Detection of Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP) from 

Headspace using Planar Solid Phase Microextraction (PSPME) Coupled to an IMS Detector” Anal Bioanal 

Chem. 2012 403(2), 401-408. 

Oxley, J.C.; Smith, J.L.; Moran, J.; Shinde, K. “Determination of the Vapor Density of Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP) Using 

A Gas Chromatography Headspace Technique” Propellants, Explosives, Protechnics, 2005, 30.2, 127-130. 

Oxley, Jimmie C.; Smith, James L.; Porter, Matthew; McLennan, Lindsay; Colizza, Kevin; Zeiri, Yehuda; Kosloff, Ronnie; 

Dubnikova, Faina “Synthesis and Degradation of Hexamethylene Triperoxide Diamine (HMTD)” Propellants, Explosives, 

Pyrotechnics 2016, 41(2), 334-350. 

The results of this research would provide the analyst guidance as to the optimal methods for sample preparation and 

concentration of solutions of volatile/unstable explosives for chemical analysis. 

Concentration of Extracts Containing Volatile/Unstable Explosives

Concentration of extracts, Volatile explosives, solutions of unstable explosives, TATP, HMTD 

Fire Debris & Explosives 5/12/2017 
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 

Not only will this research aid the practicing forensic scientists in individual cases, it will provide a better scientific 

understanding of the characteristics/properties of volatile or unstable explosives. 

Forensic analysts would be more likely to detect and/or identify the presence of volatile or unstable explosives in a 

post-blast matrix. This should aid law enforcement in their investigation of the explosion. 

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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]