Direct Detection of Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP) in Real Banknotes from ATM Explosion by EASI‐MS

In Brazil, automated teller machine (ATM) has become a major target of theft incursions toward explosion. Efficient analysis of explosives residues on suspect banknotes is a serious issue in forensic labs, and guide to the crime solution. Easy ambient sonic‐spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI‐MS) is shown to be a simple and selective screening tool to identify peroxide explosives on real banknotes collected from ATM explosion. Analyses were carried out directly on the banknotes surfaces without any sample preparation, identifying triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and diacetone diperoxide (DADP). Homemade EASI source was coupled to ultrahigh‐resolution and ultrahigh accuracy FT‐ICR MS and revealed the ion of m /z 245 correspondent to sodiated TATP C₉H₁₈O₆Na]⁺ and the ion of m /z 171 related to sodiated DADP C₆H₁₂O₄Na]⁺, ions that is the sodiated DADP and the ions of m /z 173 and 189 related to C₆H₁₄O₄Na]⁺ and C₆H₁₄O₄K]⁺, respectively, which are associated to chemical markers of TATP domestic route synthesis. EASI source coupled to a single quadrupole mass spectrometer provides an intelligent and simple way to identify the explosives TATP, DADP and its domestic synthesis markers.