Sulfur mustards chemical analysis

R.M. Black, R.J. Clarke, D.B. Cooper, R.W. Read and D. Utley, Application of headspace analysis, solvent extraction, thermal desorption and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to the analysis of chemical warfare samples containing sulfur mustard and related compounds, J. Chromatogr., 637, 71-80 (1993). 

Watson, A.P., T.D. Jones, and G.D. Griffin. 1989. Sulfur mustard as a carcinogen Application of relative potency analysis to the chemical warfare agents H, HD, and HT. Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 10 1-25. 

D. Pardasani, M. Paht, A.K. Gupta, Pankaj K. Kanaujia and D.K. Dubey. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of trifluoroacetyl derivatives of precursors of nitrogen and sulfur mustards for verification of chemical weapons convention, J. Chrom. A, 1059,157-164,(2004)). 

Analysis of Urine Samples. As noted, earher analysis of urine samples targeted either unmetabolized sulfur mustard or the hydrolysis product TDG. Since that time, the number of analytes has expanded to a total of five urinary metabolites that are of primary interest for sulfur mustard verification in cases of human exposure. Two of the metabohtes, TDG and TDG-sulfoxide, are primarily derived from chemical hydrolysis reactions (see Figure 19.4). The other three products are formed following the reaction of sulfur mustard with glutathione (see Figure 19.5). Each of the five analytes has been identified in the urine of sulfur mustard exposed individuals. 

Harris, B. L., F. Shanty, and W. J. Wiseman. 1984. Chemicals in War. In Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd ed. pp. 395-397. New York Wiley Interscience. Karvaly, G., A. Gachalyi, and J. Furesz. 2005. Quantitative analysis of the sulfur mustard hydrolysis product thiodiglycol in in vivo microdialysates using gas chromatography... 

Among vesicants, the majority of analyses apply to sulfur mustard (yperite), and much less to lewisite. After yperite was used in the Iraq-lran war, this agent was analyzed in the munition, water, soil, and body fluids of contaminated soldiers. Numerous products of yperite s decomposition were also analyzed. In a lump of sulphur mustard taken from the sea approximately 50 years after it sank, approximately 40 other chemical compounds have were detected. " Those been probably impurities of the yperite and products of its degradation. GC-MS is frequently used for analysis of those chemical agents, but FPD and ECD may also be used. 

Sulfur Mustard (oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur) by electron spectroscopy, and determining the fractionation coefficient for arsenic incorporated into Lewisite relative to scandium using neutron activation analysis. Scandium is used for the estimation of the effects of geochemical factors on the chemical composition of the marine sediment was also described. 

The analysis of chemical munitions, including their precursors and degradation products, is an important element of verification used to enforce the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The CWC that entered into force in 1997 prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons including sulfur compounds such as mustard gas. 

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