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Description
The worldwide use of nitro-explosives in the military and industrial applications has led to widespread environmental contamination. Only after World War I and II in the Baltic Sea, vast amounts of nitro-explosives was dumped, including highly toxic 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). Only in the vicinity of Germany, there are 1.6 million metric tons of sunken conventional munition explosives. Over time, metal shields in which explosives have been deposited begin to corrode, which results in increasing uncontrolled emissions of these pollutants into the environment. From these reasons, nitro-explosives and their decomposition products are widespread in the environment, especially in marine and inland water. However, the detection of conventional explosives in natural ecosystems is still an analytical challenge.
In this project, we propose a novel electrochemical sensing platform – NITROsens for rapid nitro-explosive compounds detection in both sea and freshwater. The limit of detection of NITROsens platform will be below the lifetime health advisory limit of nitro-explosive in drinking water, i.e. 2.0 ppb. The sensor will make it possible to quickly confirm the presence of explosive compounds in the aquatic environment. Hence, it can be successfully used for screening measurements to estimate environmental pollution with high-energetic nitro-compound. The sensor can also be used to assess the degree of leakage of explosives from the dumped after World War I and II barrels.
Summary of project results
Nitroaromatic compounds pose a health and ecosystem risk due to their toxicity and carcinogenicity. They enter the environment through discarded munitions, mining operations, and industrial run-off. Current detection methods are time-consuming, expensive, and require specialist equipment. Therefore, there is a requirement for the advancement of detection methods. The NITROsens project was essential for the development of an electrochemical sensory platform that can accurately detect nitroaromatic explosive compounds in real-world samples, specifically in the Baltic Sea region. Due to worries about environmental pollution and the potential dangers of explosives, there was an urgent requirement for sophisticated detecting systems to oversee and reduce these hazards.
Throughout the project, a prototype electrode and prototype electrochemical platform were effectively created, employing cutting-edge fabrication techniques using 3D-printing technology. The prototype electrode, made of a composite of boron-doped diamond and carbon nanowalls, has a distinctive branching structure. It is characterised by a high concentration of sp2 carbon and a large surface area, which allows for the precise detection of nitroaromatic chemicals. Furthermore, this electrode demonstrates stability in both freshwater and marine settings. Furthermore, the electrode exhibits remarkable sensitivity to nitroaromatic chemicals, even when they are present in complicated matrices.
The project has greatly benefited the end users by offering a dependable method of monitoring and identifying nitroaromatic explosives in real-world settings. This contributes to the improvement of environmental safety and security in the Baltic Sea region, reducing potential hazards to both human health and the integrity of the ecosystem.The project''s significance resides in its enduring influence on environmental surveillance and safeguarding. By offering a powerful detection system, it provides stakeholders with the necessary tools to efficiently monitor and address the dangers presented by nitroaromatic explosives. This not only ensures the preservation of the Baltic Sea ecosystem but also makes a valuable contribution to wider endeavours in environmental conservation and security. Furthermore, continuous research and collaborations guarantee the ongoing enhancement and implementation of the sensory platform, hence increasing its usefulness and influence in the future. There is a significant chance of commercialising some of the results, especially those pertaining to the development of new electrochemical electrodes. The impact would be internationally focussed for any nations concerned with environmental clean-up of sea and ocean waters contaminated with old explosives.