Microsynthesis and gas chromatography/electron ionization mass spectrometric and tandem mass spectrometric analysis of cyclic alkylphosphonates for verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention

We describe the microsynthesis and gas chromatography/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) analysis of cyclic alkylphosphonates (CAPs), which are included in schedule 2B4 chemicals in the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The reported microsynthesis is efficient in comparison with traditional synthesis. GC/MS and GC/tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) analysis of a variety of CAPs revealed that their fragmentations were dominated by alpha-cleavages, alkene eliminations and hydrogen rearrangements. Based on the obtained mass spectra and precursor and product ion analysis of five-, six- and seven-membered cyclic alkylphosphonates, the proposed fragmentation routes rationalize most of the characteristic ions.     

Triple Band Circular Patch Microstrip Antenna with Superstrate

A novel compact triple band slit cut circular patch antenna with superstrate is proposed; slits on the patch provide additional resonances. The superstrate (cover) of dielectric layer provides protection to printed circuit antenna from environmental hazards due to abnormal weather conditions. The slits add two resonances in the resonance of a circular patch to achieve triple band antenna for multi services. The dielectric superstrate or cover above the microstrip patch causes the change in fringing fields between the patch and ground plane. The change in fringing field is accounted to calculate the effective relative permittivity. The effective permittivity is considered to evaluate the changes in resonance frequency due to superstrate. The various parameters of the antenna have been investigated and the antenna is simulated on Ansoft’s HFSS software simulator. A prototype of antenna is fabricated to confirm the return loss by measurement using the Agilent Technologies’ N5230A PNA-L Network Analyzer. The proposed structure with superstrate possess triple band characteristics and provides protection from environmental hazards. The resonating frequencies of the bands are 7.3, 8.7 and 10.3 GHz. The analytical results are found in good agreement with the simulated results obtained by Ansoft’s HFSS and further confirmed by measurement. Antenna is worth for X band operations such as remote sensing, WPAN and military satellite communication and vehicular applications.     

Application of cation-exchange solid-phase extraction for the analysis of amino alcohols from water and human plasma for verification of Chemical Weapons Convention

The analysis of nitrogen containing amino alcohols, which are the precursors and degradation products of nitrogen mustards and nerve agent VX, constitutes an important aspect for verifying the compliance to the CWC (Chemical Weapons Convention). This work devotes on the development of solid-phase extraction method using silica- and polymer-based SCX (strong cation-exchange) and MCX (mixed-mode strong cation-exchange) cartridges for N,N-dialkylaminoethane-2-ols and alkyl N,N-diethanolamines, from water. The extracted analytes were analyzed by GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) in the full scan and selected ion monitoring modes. The extraction efficiencies of SCX and MCX cartridges were compared, and results revealed that SCX performed better. Extraction parameters, such as loading capacity, extraction solvent, its volume, and washing solvent were optimized. Best recoveries were obtained using 2 mL methanol containing 10% NH(4)OH and limits of detection could be achieved up to 5 x 10(-3) microg mL(-1) in the selected ion monitoring mode and 0.01 microg mL(-1) in full scan mode. The method was successfully employed for the detection and identification of amino alcohol present in water sample sent by Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the official proficiency tests. The method was also applied to extract the analytes from human plasma. The SCX cartridge showed good recoveries of amino alcohols from human plasma after protein precipitation.     

Design and Development of an Efficient EBG Structures Based Band Notched UWB Circular Monopole Antenna

Band notched circular monopole antennas for ultra-wide band applications are proposed in this paper. The proposed antennas in this paper can reject worldwide interoperability for microwave access WiMAX band (3.3–3.8 GHz) and wireless local area network WLAN band (5–6 GHz). Antennas utilises mushroom-type electromagnetic band gap (EBG) structures and I-slot embedded edge located via (ELV) EBG structures to achieve band-notched designs. The advantages of band notched designs using EBG structures like notch-frequency tuning, dual-notch antenna designs and stable radiation pattern are also verified. Various antenna designs with slot in EBG structures, variations in placement of EBG structures, number of EBG structures and ELV type EBG structures are simulated. About 30% reduction in size of EBG structures is obtained if conventional mushroom type EBG is replaced by proposed I-slot embedded ELV-EBG structure. Fabricated and measured results are in good agreement with simulated ones.

     

A Dual Polarized Triple Band Stacked Elliptical Microstrip Patch Antenna for WLAN Applications

In this paper, a single coaxial feed dual polarized triple band stacked microstrip patch antenna for wireless applications is presented. The proposed stacked antenna has two resonating elements with lower layer consisting of a truncated corner square patch and upper layer with an elliptical patch. Both the layers of proposed antenna are printed on RT Duroid^® 5880 substrate (having ?_r?=?2.2). The antenna shows triple band resonance at 4.2, 4.8 and 5.8 GHz with circular polarization behaviour at the first two resonances and linear polarization characteristic in the third resonance respectively. The typical realized gain of proposed antenna is around 7 dB in all three resonating bands.     

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes as efficient adsorbent for solid-phase extraction of chemical warfare agents and related chemicals from water

Optimization of extraction and enrichment parameters of chemical warfare agents and their related chemicals from water are presented using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as solid-phase extractant. Selected analytes were O,O'-dialkyl alkylphosphonates, nerve agent and mustards. Extraction parameters, including sample volume, nature and volume of washing and eluting solvent, were optimized. Recoveries of analytes were determined by GC-MS and ranged from 81 to 104%. A comparison with C(18), hydrophilic-lipophilic balance and active carbon sorbents demonstrated the superiority of MWCNTs for non-toxic analogues of nerve agents. Optimized conditions involve 40?mg MWCNTs as the sorbent, 5.0?mL water as the washing solvent, 3?mL ethyl acetate as the eluent and sample loading of 10?mL water spiked at 0.1?μg/mL. The limits of detection (LOD) were achieved down to 1 and 0.05?ng/mL in full scan and selected ion-monitoring modes, respectively.     

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometric analysis of N,N-dialkylaminoethyl-2-chlorides and trimethylsilyl derivatives of N,N-dialkylaminoethan-2-ols for verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention

Gas chromatography/electron ionization mass spectrometry (GC/EI-MS) of N,N-dialkylaminoethyl-2-chlorides (DAAECls) and trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives of N,N-dialkylaminoethan-2-ols (DAAEAs) has been carried out. GC/EI-MS data of these compounds are of importance for verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Based on these EI mass spectra, generalized fragmentation routes are proposed that rationalize most of the characteristic ions.     

BST Varactor Loaded Frequency Agile Stacked Circular Microstrip Radiator

A new frequency agile BST varactor loaded stacked circular microstrip antenna is presented. The antenna is analysed using extended cavity model. One of two bands of antenna is tunable with the help of BST varactor. The upper band is useful for WiMAX and lower band for other wireless communication systems. Various antenna parameters like return loss, resonant frequency, frequency agility etc. have been investigated. The simulated results agree well with the numerical data. A frequency agility of 60.64 % is achieved, which is better than simple Varactor diode loaded antenna. Lowest resonant frequency of 0.866 GHz is obtainable that shows a significant physical area reduction. The group delay of S $_{11}$ remains constant for entire band of operation.