Trace Analytical Methods for the Analysis of Lewisite Residues

Thevesicant 2-chlorovinyldichoroarsine (lewisite I) was produced in large quantities between World War I and II, and is one of the chemical warfare agents that needs to be destroyed under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) [1]. The Netherlands Government has offered the Russian Federation assistance in the realisation of elements of a facility for the destruction of lewisite I stored in the area of Kambarka. One of those elements is a soil remediation plant. In turn, TNO Prins Maurits Laboratory (TNO-PML) advises the Netherlands Government on technical details of several topics including methods for analysing environmental samples for lewisite residues. A short survey of available analytical methods described in the literature is presented and some own research is introduced. The methods are either based on gas chromatography (GC) or liquid chromatography (LC).