Gas chromatographic determination of methylphosphonic acids by methylation with trimethylphenylammonium hydroxide

Abstract A method is described for the isolation of decomposition products of nerve agents from aqueous solutions and their determination by gas chromatography. The methylphosphonic acids were retained on an aminopropyl ion exchanger and eluted with trimethylphenylammonium hydroxide, which also acted as a methylating reagent. The procedure was applied to environmental samples in a field exercise in which samples contaminated with the nerve agents sarin and soman were exposed to the prevailing weather for periods of up to 4 weeks. The methylphosphonic acids were detected in all the samples examined.