Hydrolysis of Levinstein Mustard (H)
Abstract
Samples of Levinstein mustard (H) were removed from leaking munitions. These samples were labeled "liquid" and "solid," although both samples contained materials of both phases. The samples were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and were found to contain HD as a minor component in both cases; The liquid sample was analyzed by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and was found to contain thiodiglycol as the single most abundant compound. Liquid and solid samples were hydrolyzed at a concentration of 15% H in water, with subsequent addition of an excess of NaOH. The hydrolysates were extracted with either chloroform, hexane, or cyclohexane and analyzed by GC/MS and in all cases were found to contain no HD at or above the drinking water level of 200 ppb. The GC/MS analysis of the solid sample showed a number of cyclic compounds not found in the liquid hydrolysate. In general, cyclohexane was found to be the preferred solvent for extraction because it provided a better NMR matrix than either hexane or chloroform and cleanly separated the extract from the large mass of high density solids on the bottom of the extract.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA418867
Entities
People
- Dennis K. Rohrbaugh
- George Wayne Wagner
- Kenneth B. Sumpter
- Steven P. Harvey
Organizations
- Edgewood Chemical Biological Center