The use of thermospray-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry for the verification of chemical warfare agents

1992 ◽  
Vol 342 (9) ◽  
pp. 749-758 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. R. J. Wils ◽  
A. G. Hulst
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Warfare Agents

Analysis of chemical warfare agents by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: methods for their direct detection and derivatization approaches for the analysis of their degradation products

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos A. Valdez ◽  
Roald N. Leif ◽  
Saphon Hok ◽  
Bradley R. Hart
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Gas Chromatography ◽  
Direct Detection ◽  
Degradation Products ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Science Center ◽  
Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Warfare Agents

AbstractChemical warfare agents (CWAs) are unarguably one of the most feared toxic substances produced by mankind. Their inception in conventional warfare can be traced as far back as the Middle Ages but their full breakthrough as central players in bellic conflicts was not realized until World War I. Since then, more modern CWAs along with efficient methods for their manufacture have emerged and violently shaped the way modern warfare and diplomatic relations are conducted. Owing to their mass destruction ability, counter methods to mitigate their impact appeared almost immediately on par with their development. These efforts have focused on their efficient destruction, development of medical countermeasures and their detection by modern analytical chemistry methods. The following review seeks to provide the reader with a broad introduction on their direct detection by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the various sample derivatization methods available for the analysis of their degradation products. The review concentrates on three of the main CWA classes and includes the nerve agents, the blistering agents and lastly, the incapacitating agents. Each section begins with a brief introduction of the CWA along with discussions of reports dealing with their detection in the intact form by GC-MS. Furthermore, as products arising from their degradation carry as much importance as the agents themselves in the field of forensic analysis, the available derivatization methods of these species are presented for each CWA highlighting some examples from our lab in the Forensic Science Center at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

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