Methods for chemical warfare agent reaction studies on reactive
films using headspace GC/MS and high resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) NMR
Issue title: Sensing and Destroying Chemical Weapons and
Pesticides Based on the Symposium at the 238th American Chemical Society
Meeting Washington DC, USA, August 18–19, 2009
Abstract: Many laboratories are studying the reactions of Chemical Warfare
Agents (CWA) and simulants with various sorbent materials, fabrics, and
decontamination solutions, in an effort to develop commercial or military CW
remediation methods. In order to facilitate the comparisons of the results
between various laboratories, it is helpful to have a standard,
well-characterized analytical method. The method should not require specialized
instrumentation, if possible. It should be standardized to allow simulant
reaction studies to be compared directly to CWA reactions that are done at
specialized laboratories. High Resolution (Solid State) Magic Angle Spinning
(HRMAS) NMR studies have been used to study reactions on solids, since it can
detect volatile CW agents as well as nonvolatile decontamination products. A
headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method was also tested
for this application, since it can be used to study reactivity and permeation.
An approach is described for measuring permeation through films as vapor or
liquid by using a two vial (vial within a vial) approach. Reactions on treated
fabrics with the CWA HD [bis(chloroethyl) sulfide], GD (pinacolyl
methylphosphonofluoridate), and VX [S,2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl
methylphosphonothioate], and some simulants for these agents, are
discussed.
