Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

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

  • Original Papers
  • Warfer Agents
  • Published:
Fresenius' Journal of Analytical Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Thermospray-liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (TSP-LC-MS) is a relatively new analytical technique which proved to be useful for the verification of chemical warfare agents and their polar degradation products in aqueous solutions. The principles of the technique are described and comparisons are made with other forms of mass spectrometric analysis. A survey is presented of the results obtained so far at the Prins Maurits Laboratory TNO. The analysis of organophosphorus nerve agents and their hydrolysis products (organophosphorus acids) in various types of water is described. Special attention is paid to the nerve agent VX. Direct analysis of vesicants in water by TSP-LC-MS is limited. However, analysis of their hydrolysis products, as well as related compounds such as adducts of mustard gas with nucleosides and peptides, is possible. Finally, the use of TSP-LC-MS for the analysis of other compounds of chemical warfare interest (toxins) is indicated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Yergey AL, Edmonds CG, Lewis IAS, Vestal ML (1989) Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Techniques and applications, Plenum Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  2. Brown MA (1990) Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Applications in agricultural, pharmaceutical, and environmental chemistry, ACS Symposium Series 420, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  3. Vestal ML, Fergusson GJ (1985) Anal Chem 57:2373

    Google Scholar 

  4. Wils ERJ, Hulst AG (1988) J Chromatogr 454:261

    Google Scholar 

  5. Wils ERJ, Hulst AG (1990) J Chromatogr 523:151

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bruins AP (1989) Adv Mass Spectrom 11:23

    Google Scholar 

  7. McFadden WH, Lammert SA (1987) J Chromatogr 385:201

    Google Scholar 

  8. Research Report on Verification of a Chemical Weapons Convention, Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oslo (1987) Part VI, Development of procedures for verification of alleged use of chemical warfare agents, CD/776; (1988) Part VII, ibid, CD/857; (1990) Part IX, Use of sorbent extraction in verification of alleged use of chemical warfare agents, CD/1019

  9. Meijers AP, Leer R van der (1976) Water Res 10:597

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gómez-Belinchón JI, Grimalt JO, Albaigés J (1988) Chemosphere 17:2189

    Google Scholar 

  11. International Interlaboratory Comparison (Round-Robin) Test for the Verification of Chemical Disarmament. F. 1. Testing of Existing Procedures. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Helsinki (1990)

  12. Epstein J, Callahan JJ, Bauer VE (1974) Phosphorus 4:157

    Google Scholar 

  13. Benschop HP, Moes GWH, Fidder A, Scheffer AG, Schans GP van der (1989) Proceedings of the 1989 Medical Defence Bioscience Review, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  14. Bean MF, Pallante-Morell SL, Fenselau C (1989) Biomed Environ Mass Spectrom 18:219

    Google Scholar 

  15. Tanaka T, Hasegawa A, Matsuki Y, Ishii K, Ueno Y (1985) Food Add Contamin 2:125

    Google Scholar 

  16. Krishnamurthy T, Beck DJ, Isensee RK, Jarvis BB (1989) J Chromatogr 469:209

    Google Scholar 

  17. Krishnamurthy T, Beck DJ, Isensee RK (1989) Biomed Environ Mass Spectrom 18:287

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. TNO, Prins Maurits Laboratory, P.O. Box 45, NL-2280 AA, Rijswijk, The Netherlands

    E. R. J. Wils & A. G. Hulst

Authors
  1. E. R. J. Wils
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. G. Hulst
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wils, E.R.J., Hulst, A.G. The use of thermospray-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry for the verification of chemical warfare agents. Fresenius J Anal Chem 342, 749–758 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00321871

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00321871

Keywords

Search

Navigation