Preparation and Analysis of Samples for the Third Round Robin Verification Exercise

Abstract

For the third international Round Robin verification exercise executed in the fall of 1991 the TNO-Prins Maurits Laboratory prepared the samples consisting of rubber, paint and concrete. These materials, which were selected to represent samples taken during an inspection at a military facility, were spiked with mustard gas and related vesicants as well as with decomposition products of mustard gas. Diesel fuel and an aromatic white spirit were added as a chemical background. In addition to a description of the spiked materials, details about the coding and transportation of the samples are presented. A number of procedures was developed for the analysis of the samples. Rubber, which was spiked with mustard gas and its disulphide, could either be analysed by extraction with a nonpolar solvent or by thermodesorption. The latter procedure had advantages for the analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Paint was spiked with sesquimustard (Q) and dimustard ether (T). Determination of these compounds was based on extraction with a nonpolar solvent, followed by spectrometric analysis (GC-MS, NMR). Concrete was spiked with two polar decomposition products of mustard gas viz. thiodiglycol and its sulphone. Extraction with water followed by analysis with thermospray- liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (TSP-LC-MS) turned out to be the best method for the quantitative determination. All compounds added were rather stable in the materials. After a period of 7 weeks they could still be recovered with reasonable or even good efficiencies. Mustard Gas, Samples, Rubber, Paint, Concrete.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA256539

Entities

People

  • E. R. Wils

Organizations

  • Prins Maurits Laboratorium TNO

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Analysis
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemical Warfare
  • Chemistry
  • Chlorides
  • Chromatography
  • Diesel Fuels
  • Efficiency
  • Liquid Chromatography
  • Mass Spectra
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Materials
  • Military Facilities
  • Mustard Agents
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Spectrometry
  • Spectroscopy

Fields of Study

  • Chemistry

Readers

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Environmental Remediation and Restoration.