The simplest to obtain, the cheapest and the most dangerous weapons are bombs. Terrorists can prepare simple but effective bombs in improvised laboratories, and that is why bombs became a symbol of terrorism. The detection of explosives is an important part of counter terrorism all around the world and analytical chemists in their white coats and with their analytical instruments play a critical role in the prevention and apprehension of makers and users of improvised explosives.

In this research a purpose designed, portable multiplexed capillary electrophoresis instrument is described for the separation of cations, anions, peroxides and organics released from an explosion.  The multiplexed CE is capable of running four analyses simultaneously thanks to four independent CE systems integrated within the one 50 kg unit.  Two capillaries have a C4D detetector, one has a UV detector, and the fourth has both C4D and UV. Four analysis at once and each of them with focus to different analytes (cations, anions, peroxides and organics) speeds up total analysis time and can help to specify the composition of a bomb identifying some of the ingredients used to make it. Thus one platform can simultaneously separate all of the components of the four major types of explosives – of high importance to forensic communities around the world.