Preparation and application of sol–gel acrylate and methacrylate solid-phase microextraction fibres for gas chromatographic analysis of organoarsenic compounds

Novel solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibres containing methyl, ethyl, butyl acrylate and methacrylate were first prepared by a sol–gel technique and investigated for determination of selected organoarsenic compounds (lewisite, methyldichloroarsine, phenyldichloroarsine, diphenylchloroarsine and triphenylarsine) from water samples. The influence of sorption and desorption temperature and time for extraction efficiency were examined. The best new fibre coatings (methyl acrylate (MA), methyl methacrylate (MMA) and combination of methyl acrylate and methacrylate (MA/MMA)) for analysis of organoarsenic compounds were selected and compared with commercial fibres. The distribution coefficients K_fs were determined for the best novel fibres and for absorption commercial fibres. The highest K_fs value were obtained for MA/MMA and MMA fibres and were respectively 9458 and 6561 for lewisite and 6458 and 5884 for triphenylarsine. The limit of detection and quantification were determined for the three laboratory obtained fibres (MA, MMA and MA/MMA). LODs for tested fibres, at a signal-to-noise of 3, were 0.03–0.3 ng mL⁻¹. LOQs for selected coatings, at signal-to-noise of 10, were 0.1–0.8 ng mL⁻¹. The relative standard deviations (RSD) for all measurements were 4.3–6.5% (n = 9) and relative errors were 2.5–5%. The laboratory obtained fibres were used for environmental analysis of pore water samples from the Baltic Sea.     

Derivatisation reactions in the chromatographic analysis of chemical warfare agents and their degradation products

The analysis of chemical warfare agents and their degradation products is an important component of verification of compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. Gas and liquid chromatography, particularly combined with mass spectrometry, are the major techniques used to detect and identify chemicals of concern to the Convention. The more polar analytes, and some of the more reactive or highly volatile agents, are usually derivatised to facilitate chromatography, and to impart properties beneficial for detection. This review focuses on derivatisation reactions used in the chromatographic analysis of chemical warfare agents, their degradation products and metabolites.     

Screening of degradation products,impurities and precursors of chemical warfare agents in water and wet or dry organic liquid samples by in-sorbent tube silylation followed by thermal desorption–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A standard method used by inspection teams of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for preparation of aqueous samples requires several extraction and derivatization steps. This results in tedious and time consuming on-site analysis. A simple thermal desorption–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (TD–GC–MS) method was developed to analyse for a broad range of degradation products, impurities and precursors of chemical warfare agents (CWA) in water solutions and wet or dry organic liquid samples. The method is fast, sensitive, requires only microliter volumes of sample and enables the simultaneous determination of a wide range of compounds with widely differing polarity, volatility and reactivity. The applicability of the method was demonstrated by successful analysis of five OPCW Official Proficiency Test samples.     

Determination of soman and VX degradation products by an aspiration ion mobility spectrometry

An aspiration type ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) has been used to determine chemical warfare agent (CWA) degradation products from liquid samples. This technique is based on ion mobility which depends on the molecular weight, charge and shape. With this method, it is possible to measure the mobility distribution of positive and negative ion clusters simultaneously in six different electrodes. Each measuring electrode determines a different portion of the ion mobility distribution formed within the cell’s radioactive source. The strongest responses for all CWA degradation products and 2-propanol were seen in the order of sixth, fifth and second channels. On the basis of projection calculation, the fingerprints for 2-propanol and soman (GD; pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate) and VX o-ethyl-S-[2(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonothioate) degradation products can be separated from each other. The detection levels for ethyl methylphosphonate (EMPA), pinacolyl methylphosphonate (PMPA), and ethylphosphonic acid (EPA) were 37.2 (37.2 μg/ml), 54.1 (54.1 μg/ml) and 55.1 ppm (55.1 μg/ml), respectively. However, the separation efficiency between different CWA degradation products was quite poor. The projections of these compounds were between 0.9976 and 0.9989, and this means that these fingerprints were identical. Thus, it is only possible to get one profile for all these degradation products of soman and VX. The data provided show that IMS is suitable as a simple technique for screening of CWA degradation products.     

Analysis of chemical warfare agents in water by solid phase extraction and two-channel capillary gas chromatography

Solid phase extraction with commercial C-18 cartridges has been applied to the analysis of some well known chemical warfare agents in water samples. Different sample pretreatment and cartridge conditioning procedures, and different extraction solvents were tested to study the optimum conditions for efficient extraction and recovery of the compounds of interest. The eluates were analyzed with a two-channel gas chromatograph equipped with an autosampler and a retention index monitoring system. The suitability of this technique for real samples is discussed: the rapid hydrolysis of many of the compounds studied and the poor recoveries of the polar degradation products are practical limitations of the method.     

Determination of chemical warfare agents and related compounds in environmental samples by solid-phase microextraction with gas chromatography

Solid phase microextraction (SPME) is an increasingly common method of sample isolation and enhancement. SPME is a convenient and simple sample preparation technique for chromatographic analysis and a useful alternative to liquid-liquid extraction and solid phase extraction. SPME is speed and simply method, which has been widely used in environmental analysis because it is a rather safe method when dealing with highly toxic chemicals. A combination of SPME and gas chromatography (GC) permits both the qualitative and quantitative analysis of toxic industrial compounds, pesticides and chemical warfare agents (CWAs), including their degradation products, in air, water and soil samples. This work presents a combination of SPME and GC methods with various types of detectors in the analysis of CWAs and their degradation products in air, water, soil and other matrices. The combination of SPME and GC methods allows for low detection limits depending on the analyte, matrix and detection system. Commercially available fibers have been mainly used to extract CWAs in headspace analysis. However, attempts have been made to introduce new fiber coatings that are characterized by higher selectivities towards different analytes of interest. Environmental decomposition of CWAs leads to the formation of more hydrophilic products. These compounds may be isolated from samples using SPME and analyzed using GC however, they must often be derivatized first to produce good chromatography. In these cases, one must ensure that the SPME method also meets the same needs. Otherwise, it is helpful to use derivatization methods. SPME may also be used with fieldportable mass spectrometry (MS) and GC-MS instruments for chemical defense applications, including field sampling and analysis. SPME fibers can be taken into contaminated areas to directly sample air, headspaces above solutions, soils and water.     

丙烯酸酯和甲基丙烯酸酯基团转移共聚研究

研究了三种丙烯酸酯分别和四种甲基丙烯酸酯的基团转移共聚，用１Ｈ ＮＭＲ法测定共聚物组成，扩展的Ｋｅｌｅｎ Ｔｕｄｏｓ法测定竞聚率，结果为γＭＡ＝９２３、γＭＭＡ＝００６；γＥＡ＝１４１５、γＭＭＡ＝００１；γＢＡ＝７５１、γＭＭＡ＝００２；γＭＡ＝１４４１、γＥＭＡ＝００１；γＭＡ＝１３９６、γＢＭＡ＝０２３；γＭＡ＝８６６、γｉ ＢＭＡ＝００８，表明基团转移聚合同阴离子聚合有明显的相似之处．     

甲基丙烯酸酯和丙烯酸酯基团转移共聚的竞聚率

甲基丙烯酸酯和丙烯酸酯基团转移共聚的竞聚率邹友思郭金全戴李宗潘容华（厦门大学化工系，厦门，３６１００５）基团转移聚合是制备极性单体的嵌段或无规共聚物的有效方法。如用甲基丙烯酸甲酯（ＭＭＡ）和丙烯酸丁酯（ＢＡ）进行嵌段共聚，可制得热塑性弹性体［１...     

Detection of aqueous phase chemical warfare agent degradation products by negative mode ion mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometry [IM(tof)MS]

The use of negative ion monitoring mode with an atmospheric pressure ion mobility orthogonal reflector time-of-flight mass spectrometer [IM(tof)MS] to detect chemical warfare agent (CWA) degradation products from aqueous phase samples has been determined. Aqueous phase sampling used a traditional electrospray ionization (ESI) source for sample introduction and ionization. Certified reference materials (CRM) of CWA degradation products for the detection of Schedule 1, 2, or 3 toxic chemicals or their precursors as defined by the chemical warfare convention (CWC) treaty verification were used in this study. A mixture of six G-series nerve related CWA degradation products (EMPA, IMPA, EHEP, IHEP, CHMPA, and PMPA) and their related collision induced dissociation (CID) fragment ions (MPA and EPA) were found in each case to be clearly resolved and detected using the IM(tof)MS instrument in negative ion monitoring mode. Corresponding ions, masses, drift times, K(o) values, and signal intensities for each of the CWA degradation products are reported.     

Utilisation of separation methods in the analysis of chemical warfare agents

Chemical warfare agents and their degradation products represent a broad group of compounds with different chemical properties (polarity, volatility, thermostability, etc.). These chemicals often have to be detected and determined in complex matrices and therefore highly efficient separation techniques hyphenated to selective and sensitive detectors play an indispensable role. This review offers an overview of selected papers devoted to the title subject. It cannot be considered as a comprehensive literature compilation but should allow the reader to obtain an insight into the application of separation techniques in the important area of human protection and control of chemical weapons.     

Determination of diphenylarsinic acid and phenylarsonic acid,the degradation products of organoarsenic chemical warfare agents,in well water by HPLC–ICP‐MS

Diphenylarsinic acid (DPAA) and phenylarsonic acid (PAA), which were degradation products of organoarsenic chemical warfare agents used as sternutatory gas, were detected in the well water at Kamisu, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. The standard material of DPAA was synthesized with aqueous arsenic acid and phenylhydrazine in order to determine organic arsenic compounds in well water. The DPAA showed a protonated ion at m/z 263 [M + H]⁺ and a loss of H₂O ion at m/z 245 [M + H ? H₂O]⁺ from protonated ion by the electrospray ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. The quantitative analysis of DPAA and PAA was performed by high‐performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and the system worked well for limpid liquid samples such as well water. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

罗布麻纤维与丙烯酸酯类接枝共聚物结构和性能的研究

本文以氧化还原体系引发丙烯酸甲酯(MA)、丙烯酸乙酯(EA)、丙烯酸丁酯(BA)与罗布麻纤维的接枝共聚反应,用IR、SEM和X-射线衍射等手段表征了接枝纤维的结构。与纯罗布麻纤维相比较,接枝纤维具有较高的断裂伸长率和较低的杨氏模量,柔顺性增加;耐酸、碱能力随接枝率的增加而提高,但吸湿率不降。     

Rapid screening of precursor and degradation products of chemical warfare agents in soil by solid-phase microextraction ion mobility spectrometry (SPME-IMS)

The use of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) to detect precursor and degradation products of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) as soil contaminants was investigated. The development and characterization of a system to interface a thermal desorption solid-phase microextraction inlet with a hand held ion mobility spectrometer was demonstrated. The analytes used in this study were diisopropyl methylphosphonate (DIMP), diethyl methylphosphonate (DEMP), and dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP). Two SPME fibers with different stationary phases, 100 μm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and 65 μm polydimethylsiloxane divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB), were evaluated in this study to determine the optimal fiber and extraction conditions. Better results were obtained with the PDMS fiber. SPME-IMS offered good repeatability and detection of the precursor and degradation products in spiked soil at concentrations as low as 10 μg/g. Sample analysis time was less than 30 min for all the precursor and degradation products.     

Copolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and alkyl acrylates: Studies of molecular weight distribution and thermal behavior

Several copolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) with methyl acrylate (MA), ethyl acrylate (EA), n-butyl acrylate (BA), and methyl methacrylate (MMA) were prepared at 70°C in nitrogen atmosphere using 0.2% (w/v) benzoyl peroxide as initiator. The copolymer composition was evaluated by estimation of hydroxyl group in the copolymers. Intrinsic viscosity of HEMA–EA, HEMA–BA, and HEMA–MMA copolymers was determined at 35°C in dimethyl formamide. Molecular weight distribution of copolymer samples was evaluated by gel permeation chromatography. Thermal behavior of the copolymers was investigated by dynamic thermogravimetry. Thermal stability decreased on increasing HEMA content in MA, EA, and BA copolymers. However, a reverse trend was observed in HEMA–MMA copolymers.     

Electrochemical Sensing of Chemical Warfare Agent Based on Hybrid Material Silver‐aminosilane Graphene Oxide

The threat from chemical warfare agents (CWAs) imparts an alarming call for the global community not limited to human being but also extends as unprecedented environmental threat, hence, timely detection and degradation in the event of CWAs attack is very crucial. Herein, we describe a hybrid material of 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) modified graphene oxide (GO) on glassy carbon (GC) electrode along with electrodeposited silver nanodendrimers (AgNDs) for the electrochemical detection and degradation of CWA sulphur mustard (HD). The AgNDs/APTES‐GO hybrid material was characterized by SEM, EDX, BET, TGA, Raman, UV‐Vis, XPS and XRD techniques. The AgNDs/APTES‐GO modified GC electrode was also characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Electrochemical studies indicated presence of electrocatalysis owing to the synergistic effect of AgNDs and GO for sensing CWA HD via reductive dehalogenation. The AgNDs/APTES‐GO modified GC electrode exhibited linearity for CWA HD from 5.3 μM to 42.4 μM. Constant potential electrolysis was performed with modified electrode and degradation products were analysed using GC‐MS, highlighting the great potential of graphene based hybrid material. This new strategy provides an opportunity for the development of “detect and destroy” system for the CWAs and other environmental toxic pollutant, which could help in mitigation of on‐ site events for first responders.     

Determination of small phosphorus-containing compounds by capillary electrophoresis

The review focuses on the analysis of small phosphorus-containing compounds by capillary electrophoresis (CE) with different detection modes including UV absorption, laser-induced fluorescence, conductometry, amperometry, atomic spectrometry, and mass spectrometry. Determinations of phosphates, organophosphate, and chemical warfare agents in environmental samples such as water, soil and grains are emphasized. To achieve better sensitivity, high-resolving power, and reproducibility, the optimum separation conditions for various analytes (samples) are different. We compare the merits and demerits of the different detection modes for the detection of the analytes. Although the present methods are successful in many cases, there is still a need to develop high-throughput CE techniques for screening numerous environmental samples and sample stacking techniques in CE for the analysis of trace analytes.     

Coordination behavior of organothiophosphate ligands towards trivalent lanthanide complexes and potential use as V-series chemical warfare agent simulants

Abstract

In order to develop new, low toxicity and readily accessible supramolecular simulants for V-series organophosphorus chemical warfare agents (OP CWAs) a series of organothiophosphate compounds, that are structurally analogous to the V-series OP CWAs, were designed and synthesized. Solution spectroscopic studies (luminescence and UV-vis) into the binding behaviors of these compounds and some organothiophosphate pesticides with the simple model trivalent lanthanide complex [Eu(phen)₂(NO₃)₃]·3H₂O were performed and association constants (K_assoc) determined. Binding behaviors of these compounds with other OP CWAs and simulants investigated previously in analogous studies are presented and the implications of this in the context of OP CWA and related chemical sensing are discussed.     

Mass spectrometric analysis of chemical warfare agents and their degradation products in soil and synthetic samples

A packed capillary liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) method was developed for the identification of chemical warfare agents, their degradation products and related compounds in synthetic tabun samples and in soil samples collected from a former mustard storage site. A number of organophosphorus and organosulfur compounds that had not been previously characterized were identified, based on acquired high-resolution ESI-MS data. At lower sampling cone voltages, the ESI mass spectra were dominated by protonated, sodiated and protonated acetonitrile adducts and/or their dimers that could be used to confirm the molecular mass of each compound. Structural information was obtained by inducing product ion formation in the ESI interface at higher sampling cone voltages. Representative ESI-MS mass spectra for previously uncharacterized compounds were incorporated into a database as part of an on-going effort in chemical warfare agent detection and identification. The same samples were also analyzed by capillary column gas chromatography (GC)-MS in order to compare an established method with LC-ESI-MS for chemical warfare agent identification. Analysis times and full-scanning sensitivities were similar for both methods, with differences being associated with sample matrix, ease of ionization and compound volatility. GC-MS would be preferred for organic extracts and must be used for the determination of mustard and relatively non-polar organosulfur degradation products, including 1,4- thioxane and 1,4-dithiane, as these compounds do not ionize during ESI-MS. Diols, formed following hydrolysis of mustard and longer-chain sulfur vesicants, may be analyzed using both methods with LC-ESI-MS providing improved chromatographic peak shape. Aqueous samples and extracts would, typically, be analyzed by LC-ESI-MS, since these analyses may be conducted directly without the need for additional sample handling and/or derivatization associated with GC-MS determinations. Organophosphorus compounds, including chemical warfare agents, related compounds and lower volatility hydrolysis products may all be determined during a single LC-ESI- MS analysis. Derivatization of chemical warfare agent hydrolysis products and other compounds with hydroxyl substitution would be required prior to GC-MS analysis, giving LC-ESI-MS a definite advantage over GC-MS for the analysis of samples containing chemical warfare agents and/or their hydrolysis products.     

Explosive and chemical threat detection by surface-enhanced Raman scattering: A review

Acts of terror and warfare threats are challenging tasks for defense agencies around the world and of growing importance to security conscious policy makers and the general public. Explosives and chemical warfare agents are two of the major concerns in this context, as illustrated by the recent Boston Marathon bombing and nerve gas attacks on civilians in the Middle East. To prevent such tragic disasters, security personnel must be able to find, identify and deactivate the threats at multiple locations and levels. This involves major technical and practical challenges, such as detection of ultra-low quantities of hazardous compounds at remote locations for anti-terror purposes and monitoring of environmental sanitation of dumped or left behind toxic substances and explosives. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is one of todays most interesting and rapidly developing methods for label-free ultrasensitive vibrational “fingerprinting” of a variety of molecular compounds. Performance highlights include attomolar detection of TNT and DNT explosives, a sensitivity that few, if any, other technique can compete with. Moreover, instrumentation needed for SERS analysis are becoming progressively better, smaller and cheaper, and can today be acquired for a retail price close to 10,000 US$. This contribution aims to give a comprehensive overview of SERS as a technique for detection of explosives and chemical threats. We discuss the prospects of SERS becoming a major tool for convenient in-situ threat identification and we summarize existing SERS detection methods and substrates with particular focus on ultra-sensitive real-time detection. General concepts, detection capabilities and perspectives are discussed in order to guide potential users of the technique for homeland security and anti-warfare purposes.     

用于化学毒剂检测的微萃取技术研究进展

对化学毒剂及其降解产物的分析检测是准确鉴别化学沾染的重要手段.由于化学毒剂及其降解产物的样品可能存在于各种基质中,且部分化学毒剂在水体等基质中降解速度过快,所以将痕量样品从复杂基质中快速高效的富集提取出来显得尤其重要.微萃取技术具有装置体积小、使用少量或不使用溶剂、绿色环保、易与色谱分析技术联用等突出优势受到广泛的关注...