Chemical Warfare Agents: Verification of Compounds Containing the Phosphorus-Methyl Linkage in Waste Water
- 11 May 1979
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science
- Vol. 204 (4393), 616-618
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.204.4393.616
Abstract
The chemical analysis of the waste water from plants that manufacture chemicals is a nonintrusive method for confirming a suspected violation of the prohibition against the production of chemical warfare agents. The chemical structure of most nerve gases is related to that of methylphosphonic acid, whereas most organo-phosphorus pesticides have the phosphoric acid structure. On the basis of this characteristic difference, a procedure has been developed in which the presence of a nerve gas, its decomposition products, or its starting materials in waste water (Rhine River and Meuse River water) is reflected by the appearance of methylphosphonic acid as a breakdown product after hydrolysis. This acid is concentrated and converted into a volatile compound by methylation. After cleanup, the ester may be separated from related compounds by gas chromatography and is detected by means of a specific detector for phosphorus. The detection limit of nerve gases by this procedure is approximately 1 nanomole per liter of water. The scope and limitations of the method are discussed.Keywords
This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- River pollution by anticholinesterase agentsWater Research, 1976
- Cleanup procedure for the determination of low levels of alkyl phosphates, thiophosphates, and dithiophosphates in rat and human urineJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 1971