The Explosives GC system from SRI combines a Heated Flash Vaporization injector, a built-in "whisper quiet" air compressor, and a Thermionic Ionization Detector for detection of nitroaromatic explosives such as TNT, and nitramine explosives such as RDX (C4) and HMX.

If only nitroaromatics are required, the GC will operate on the built-in air compressor alone, using its air for both carrier and make-up gas. This GC is especially convenient for field monitoring, and screening of explosives-contaminated soil and water, as might be found in military bases or practice ranges.

Unlike immunoassay or colorimetric detection methods which cannot discriminate the biodegraded transformation byproducts of TNT (2-amino-4, 6-dinotrotoluene, etc.), and which may not function well in the presence of high levels of interferences from other explosive compounds, the Explosives GC can separate and detect all the nitroaromatic compounds, even in the presence of interferences that would compromise other measurement techniques. For TNT and some other nitroaromatics, detection limits of 1ppb are routine. When nitroamines must also be detected, nitrogen is used for the carrier gas, and air is used for the TID makeup gas. Nitramine compounds like RDX exhibit lower response by a factor of 50.