Post-Blast Residue (PBR)
Definition
Unconsumed explosive plus reaction by-products left at the seat of an explosion, on debris, on fragments and on the hands or clothing of anyone who handled the device. The forensic analyte of every blast case.
Related terms
- Diphenylamine Test
- Color test for nitrates and nitro groups. Diphenylamine in conc. H2SO4 turns deep blue with oxidising NO3-/NO2-. Also a primer-residue test, which...
- GC-TEA
- Gas chromatography with a Thermal Energy Analyser. Pyrolytic cleavage of the nitro group to NO followed by chemiluminescent reaction with ozone. Nitro-specific,...
- IMS
- Ion Mobility Spectrometry. Drift-tube separation of gas-phase ions at ambient pressure. Smiths IONSCAN 500DT and Sabre 5000 give 5-second field screening on...
- Ion Chromatography (IC)
- An analytical technique that separates and quantifies anions and cations in solution. In post-blast residue analysis, IC detects nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, and...
- Janowski Test
- Color test for nitroaromatics. Sample plus DMSO plus alcoholic KOH gives a violet Meisenheimer complex. Positive for TNT, picric acid, tetryl and...
- Modified Griess Test
- A contact-transfer colour chemistry test for nitrite-containing propellant combustion residue. Sulphanilic acid undergoes diazotisation with nitrous acid (from NO2 on the target...
- VBIED
- Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device. Pulwama 2019 is the recent Indian reference case (RDX plus ammonium nitrate).
Explained in
- Forensic Analysis of Explosives and Post-Blast ResiduesUnconsumed explosive plus reaction by-products left at the seat of an explosion, on debris, on fragments and on the hands or clothing of anyone who handled the...