Quantitative Analysis of Chemical Warfare Agent Degradation Products in Reaction Masses Using Capillary Electrophoresis

Quantitative methods have been developed for the analysis of chemical warfare agent degradation products in reaction masses using capillary electrophoresis (CE). This is the first report of a systematic validation of a CE-based method for the analysis of chemical warfare agent degradation products in agent neutralization matrixes (reaction masses). After neutralization with monoethanolamine/water, the nerve agent GB (isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate, Sarin) gives isopropyl methylphosphonic acid (IMPA) and O-isopropyl O‘-(2-amino)ethyl methylphosphonate (GB-MEA adduct). The nerve agent GD (pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate, Soman), [pinacolyl = 2-(3,3-dimethyl)butyl] produces pinacolyl methylphosphonic acid (PMPA) and O-pinacolyl O‘-(2-amino)ethyl methylphosphonate (GD-MEA adduct). The samples were prepared by dilution of the reaction masses with deionized water before analysis by CE/indirect UV detection or CE/conductivity detection. Migration time precision was less than 4.0% RSD for IMPA and 5.0% R...