TNT vapour measurements above buried landmines. Model experiments using [methyl-14C] TNT

Abstract
As many land-mines are no longer made of metallic substances, locating mines by detection of the vapour of explosives has been proposed as an alternative. In order to set a goal for these detectors a required detection limit was generated. The vapour concentration of TNT above buried land-mines was estimated using model experiments with radioactive labelled TNT, which was synthesized for this purpose. When burying TNT sealed in PVC under a 6 cm thick layer of soil after 50–60 hours breakthrough of TNT vapours was observed. Extrapolating from these measurements to a real minefield situation yielded concentrations in the sub-ppt range inside as well as in the neighbourhood of the field.

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