Selective solid-phase microextraction of explosives using fibers coated with the La(III) complex of p-di(4,4,5,5,6,6,6-heptafluoro-1,3-hexanedionyl)benzene

This research demonstrates enhanced capture of explosives on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibers coated with a metal β-diketonate polymer, [La(III) complex of p-di(4,4,5,5,6,6,6-heptafluoro-1,3-hexanedionyl)benzene, La(dihed)], compared to PDMS control fibers. SPME sampling was performed in an explosives bunker where the concentration of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) was estimated at less than 3 parts-per-trillion (v/v). Analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry showed an approximate 10-fold enhancement in the quantity of 2,4-dinitrotoluene captured on La(dihed) over the control fiber. La(dihed) sampling also resulted in a strong signal for TNT, whereas this explosive was well below the detection limit (1 pg on fiber) on the control fiber.