Patent ID: 7745227

Claim:
A method for analyzing samples for explosives, comprising the steps of: providing a thin layer chromatography plate, providing a tank, providing a solvent mixture, providing a reagent 1, providing a reagent 2, and performing the following combination of steps in the following order: Step 1, mark locations for the samples on said thin layer chromatography plate, Step 2, spot samples on said thin layer chromatography plate at said locations, Step 3, spot multi-component explosives standards on said thin layer chromatography plate at said locations, Step 4, add said solvent mixture to said tank, wherein said solvent mixture is formulated as follows: 80 ml hexane+10 ml isopropanol+3 ml N,N-dimethylformamide+5 ml p-xylene+5 ml of methoxyethanol, Step 5, dip said thin layer chromatography plate in said solvent mixture and allow chromatography to proceed, Step 6, dip said thin layer chromatography plate in said reagent I and monitor for color to indicate explosives, Step 7, heat said thin layer chromatography plate, and Step 8, dip said thin layer chromatography plate in said reagent 2 and monitor for color to indicate explosives.