Sains Malaysiana 51(9)(2022): 2955-2966

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2022-5109-17

Detection Vapour of Nitrate Fertiliser Based Explosives on Transportation of Nitrates during Shipping using Diphenylamine-Calorimeter Optic Device

(Pengesanan Wap Bahan Letupan Berasaskan Baja Nitrat pada Pengangkutan Nitrat semasa Penghantaran menggunakan Peranti Optik Difenilamina-Kalorimeter)

NOOR HAZFALINDA HAMZAH¹, MOHD FAIZAL ABDUL RAHMAN^1,2, GINA FRANCESCA GABRIEL¹ & KHAIRUL OSMAN^1,*

¹Forensic Science Program, Center of Diagnostic, Therapeutics & Investigation (CODTIS), Faculty of Health Sciences, Basement 1, Perpustakaan Tun Seri Lanang, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Ministry of Home Affairs, One IOI Square, IOI Resort, 62502 Putrajaya, Federal Territory, Malaysia

Received: 28 December 2021/Accepted: 21 April 2022

Abstract

This study examines the ability of a Diphenylamine-Calorimeter Optical Device (DCOD) to detect the presence of nitrate in shipping containers. Fifteen selected inorganic fertilisers that potentially can be turned into an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) were analysed using UPLC-PDA. Results showed that only ammonium nitrate is suitable for turning into an IED and causing an explosion. A container model placed onboard a Malaysian Maritime vessel was used to determine the temperature and humidity experienced by nitrate during the voyage and at port. During the sea voyage (wet conditions), temperature and humidity were between 25-40.5 °C and 51.5-93.0%, respectively. In ports (dry conditions), the temperature ranged from 26.5-38.5 °C and 46-91% humidity. Using conventional tests in wet conditions, nitrous oxide was detectable with low reproducibility between 48-50 °C and vapour exposure duration of 850.0 to 895.0 s. While in dry conditions, nitrate oxide was detected regularly between 722.0 and 731.0 s and temperature between 44-50 °C. The sensitivity of the conventional and DCOD methods were evaluated and found to be similar. Field tests on DCOD were then conducted on nitrate stored in a container for 30 min, 1 h, 3 h and 2 days. Reading for positive results obtained were 67, 67, 11 and 0%, correspondingly. We conclude that DCOD can detect nitrate vapour in containers, but further modifications are required to increase its sensitivity.

Keywords: Container vessel; diphenylamine; IED; nitrate

Abstrak

Penyelidikan ini dijalankan untuk menguji kemampuan Alat Optik Kalorimeter Difenilamina (DCOD) bagi mengesan kehadiran nitrat dalam kontena. Lima belas baja tak organik yang berpotensi untuk dijadikan IED telah dianalisis menggunakan UPLC-PDA. Keputusan menunjukkan hanya IED berasaskan ammonium nitrat sahaja boleh menghasilkan letupan. Model kontena diletakkan di atas kapal Maritim Malaysia bagi menganalisis suhu dan kelembapan yang dialami oleh nitrat semasa pelayaran dan di pelabuhan. Semasa pelayaran (keadaan lembap), suhu dan kelembapan masing-masing adalah antara julat 25-40.5 °C dan 51.5-93.0%. Semasa di pelabuhan (keadaan kering), julat suhu dan kelembapan adalah antara 26.5-38.5 °C dan 46-91%. Ujian konvensional keadaan lembap menunjukkan gas nitros oksida dikesan pada suhu 48 °C hingga 50 °C apabila udara dialirkan pada tempoh masa 850.0 hingga 895.0 s manakala keadaan kering, nitros oksida telah dikesan secara seragam pada tempoh masa 722.0 hingga 731.0 s dan suhu antara 44-50 °C. Kesensitifan kaedah konvensional dan kaedah DCOD telah dinilai dan mempunyai persamaan. Ujian lapangan terhadap DCOD iaitu mengesan kehadiran wap nitrat dalam model kontena telah diuji pada selang masa 30 min, 1 jam, 3 jam dan 2 hari dan data bacaan keputusan positif yang diperoleh ialah 67, 67, 11 dan 0%. Kami membuat kesimpulan DCOD mempunyai potensi untuk mengesan wap nitrat dalam kontena tetapi pengubahsuaian perlu dilakukan untuk meningkatkan kesensitifan alat ini.

Kata kunci: Difenilamina; IED; kontena kapal; nitrat

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^*Corresponding author; email: khairos@ukm.edu.my