DETERMINATION OF 2,4,6-TRINITROTOLUENE AND ITS BIODEGRADATION PRODUCTS BY NORMAL-PHASE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A normal-phase liquid chromatographic (LC) method with silica as the s tationary phase for the separation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and its biodegradation products was developed. Baseline separation of TNT, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene, 4-amino-2,6-dinitroto luene, 2,4-diamino-6-nitrotoluene and 2,6-diamino-4-nitrotolune was ac hieved. Extraction methods for the preparation of samples from TNT red uction ponds in a TNT-making factory are described, and extracted samp les were analysed by the developed LC method.