Browsing by Author "Sharma, Bhumika"

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    Comparative sampling methodologies for detecting and quantifying 2,4,6 trinitrotoluene post-blast traces in water
    (NATO STO Collaboration Support Office and the Applied Vehicle Technology (AVT) Panel, 2024-10-16) Webb, Sally Lynn; Sharma, Bhumika; Temple, Tracey; Coulon, Frederic
    This study addresses the analytical challenges associated with recovering explosive residues, focusing on the identification of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in water samples. It evaluates the practicality, efficiency, and representativeness of three sampling methodologies: traditional grab sampling (GS), composite sampling (CS), and 3-D multi-increment sampling (3D-MIS). High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was employed for explosive identification. Post-blast sampling of TNT residues from high-order and low-order deflagrations was conducted to assess each method's efficacy and limitations in detecting trace and bulk contaminations. The experiments were conducted at the Alford Technologies Group range in Broadmead, UK, with analysis performed at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham, UK. Key findings highlight the varying effectiveness of each sampling method, with implications for enhancing detection sensitivity and accuracy in post-blast scenarios. This study underscores the importance of selecting appropriate sampling strategies tailored to different contamination scenarios, thereby informing more effective response protocols in CBRNe incidents involving water environments.
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    Comparative sampling methodologies for detecting and quantifying 2,4,6 trinitrotoluene post-blast traces in water
    (Cranfield University Defence and Security, 2024-11-13) Webb, Sally; Sharma, Bhumika; Temple, Tracey; Coulon, Frederic
    This study addresses the analytical challenges associated with recovering explosive residues, focusing on the identification of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in water samples. It evaluates the practicality, efficiency, and representativeness of three sampling methodologies: traditional grab sampling (GS), composite sampling (CS), and 3-D multi-increment sampling (3D-MIS). High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was employed for explosive identification. Post-blast sampling of TNT residues from high-order and low-order deflagrations was conducted to assess each method's efficacy and limitations in detecting trace and bulk contaminations. The experiments were conducted at the Alford Technologies Group range in Broadmead, UK, with analysis performed at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham, UK. Key findings highlight the varying effectiveness of each sampling method, with implications for enhancing detection sensitivity and accuracy in post-blast scenarios. This study underscores the importance of selecting appropriate sampling strategies tailored to different contamination scenarios, thereby informing more effective response protocols in CBRNE incidents involving water environments.
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    Environmental concerns when utilizing detonation as the clearance method for dumped munitions
    (Cranfield University Defence and Security, 2024-11-13) Sharma, Bhumika; Webb, Sally; Temple, Tracey; Coulon, Frederic
    Common methods for clearing dumped munitions include low-order and high-order detonations. Low-order detonations produce subsonic explosions, typically leaving behind large explosive fragments, while high-order detonations involve supersonic explosions, usually destroying the entire munition. However, both methods may result in incomplete combustion and the release of explosive materials into the aquatic environment. Additional environmental impacts include noise pollution, shock waves, metal toxicity, and the spread of bomb fragments. To therefore estimate the detonation hazards further experiments were conducted under controlled conditions using six 1000L Intermediate bulk container tanks. Explosive charges were detonated at both low-order and high-order detonations. On average, the low-order detonations (Tanks A & B) left 8.76 ppm of explosive residues, while high-order detonations (Tanks C & D) left significantly less residue, averaging 1.18 ppm. These values were based on a starting explosive concentration of 115 ppm before detonation. The findings confirmed that low-order detonations leave more explosive residue, leading to a higher risk of toxicity. High-order detonations, though resulting in less explosive residue, release fragments at high velocity, posing a serious environmental threat and increasing the risk of accidental explosions.