New Threat of Improvised Liquid Explosives : Case of Ester Nitrates

Currently, liquid explosives pose a potential threat. An important phase in the assessment of this threat is to investigate the various synthesis paths leading to their manufacture and to evaluate the potential use of readily purchasable precursors. The aim of this work was to assess the synthesis of som ester nitrate using commercially available precursors. The characteristics of the synthetic process (ease, yield), the chemical properties of the synthesized product and their explosive properties were investigated. Comparisons are drawn between these products and the product obtained using laboratory ingredients. in the case of use by terrorists the post blast forensic analysis protocol of the improvised liquid ester nitrates is illustrated in order to prevent the subversive use of these commercial precursors, some technical countermeasures are proposed.