PETN

PETN was synthesized and purified in the laboratory according to the methods described by Ledgard [22].

The mesh size of PETN was 0.25 x 1 mm, and the amount of elements was 2 x 400 = 800.

Trace samples of PETN were obtained using Accustandards (high purity analytical calibration standards typically used to calibrate IMS and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) analytical instrumentation).

El PETN esta clasificado dentro del Grupo A de explosivos primarios o iniciadores segun la clasificacion del sistema UN (Naciones Unidas) y ha sido designado con el codigo UN 150 y clasificado de riesgo 1.1D (Global security 2011).

Terrorists had employed PETN in several attacks on commercial aircraft.

In both cases, the powerful explosive PETN was concealed in printer cartridges and experts said the force of these sophisticated bombs would have been enough to bring down the planes.

The bomb found in Britain was hidden in a Hewlett Packard printer and contained 400 grams of the highly potent explosive pentaerythritol trinitrate (PETN), with the Dubai package holding 300 grams, a German government source said.

They also said that each bomb was attached to a syringe containing lead azide, a chemical initiator that would have detonated PETN explosives packed into each printer cartridge.

Both PETN and a syringe were used in the failed bombing last Christmas of a Detroit-bound airliner.

The official also said that each bomb was attached to a syringe containing lead azide, a chemical initiator that would have detonated PETN explosives packed into each computer printer toner cartridge.