Findings from Swab Samples

• In the package labeled: "Packet No. 6 Swab taken on a gauze swab soaked in distilled water from the bottom inner part of the container, front right, of the 'KAMAZ' vehicle..." the following was found:
  • A gauze swab with layers of a gray substance.
• In the package labeled: "Packet No. 7 Swab taken on a gauze swab soaked in distilled water from the bottom inner left part of the container of the 'KAMAZ' vehicle..." the following was found:
  • A gauze swab with layers of a gray substance.
• In the package labeled: "Packet No. 8 Swab taken on a gauze swab soaked in distilled water from the bottom inner right part of the container of the 'KAMAZ' vehicle..." the following was found:
  • A gauze swab with layers of a gray substance.
• In the package labeled: "Control sample of a gauze swab" the following was found:
  • A gauze swab.

Physico-chemical studies of explosive substances

For the purpose of detecting explosive substances (VV) or their components, physico-chemical studies of the presented objects were conducted using methods of optical microscopy, high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC), ion chromatography (IC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and scanning electron microscopy with X-ray spectral microanalysis (SEM-EDX) in the following sequence.

Initially, to detect microparticles of explosives, components of composite explosives (fine powders of aluminum, ammonium nitrate, etc.), and gunpowder particles, the objects were examined visually using a Leica MZ12 microscope (Germany) at various magnifications and lighting conditions.

As a result, no microparticles or particles of the above-mentioned substances were detected on the studied objects.

Next, methanol swabs were taken from the objects described in items 1-7 and 16 (here and hereafter, items of external inspection), and from the objects described in items 8-15, swabs were taken using the respective solvents (acetone and bidistilled water) indicated in the explanatory labels on the packages. The obtained swabs were filtered through ashless "white ribbon" filters. The methanol swabs were evaporated to a volume of 1 ml and then divided in half. One part, together with the acetone swabs concentrated to a volume of 0.2 - 0.3 ml, was studied using HPTLC and GC-MS methods; the other part was dried until the solvent was completely removed and then filled with 0.5 ml of bidistilled water for each swab for study by the IC method. The filters were dried and kept for further research.

To detect trace amounts of high explosives, the acetone and methanol swabs were studied using HPTLC and GC-MS methods.

The HPTLC study was conducted using a complex of chromatographic equipment from the company "Camag" (Switzerland) under the following conditions: