Work

Colorimetric Determination of Peroxides: A New Paper-Based Sensor for Detecting Hexamethylene Triperoxide Diamine (HMTD)

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Homemade explosives (HMEs) are of increasing interest to security forces worldwide due to their widespread utilization by terrorists. Their synthesis is relatively straightforward, requiring only a few readily available chemical compounds. Among the most popular HMEs are organic peroxides, specifically triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD). This manuscript reports on a paper-based sensor developed for the detection of HMTD. The sensor facilitates fast, inexpensive, and simple detection of this peroxide. The developed sensor was compared with well-established commercial and in-house-developed iodometric tests typically used for peroxide determination. The colorimetric principle was based on the use of a potassium iodide and citric acid solution applied to a paper substrate. The HMTD and TATP samples were prepared in an acetone–water mixture (1:1, v/v). The sensor was able to detect HMTD down to a limit of 0.01 mg/mL. The developed sensor does not exhibit cross-reactivity with other explosives, including TATP. Furthermore, an HSV analysis of the photographs was performed using the Trigit application.

Source: Sensors

DOI: 10.3390/s26030904