Conventional analytical methods for chemical warfare agents
H. H. Hill, Jr. and S. J. Martin
Department of Chemistry, Washington State University,
Pullman, WA 99164-4630, USA
Abstract:
Analytical methods that are currently used for the detection and identification
of chemical warfare agents are reviewed and classified by the number
of dimensions of information they provide. Single dimensional sensors
target specific compounds or classes of compounds. Although they can
be less expensive and more portable than multidimensional sensors, multidimensional
sensors detect a broader threat spectrum with greater precision and
accuracy. The recommendation for analytical field verification during
inspections under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is to use simple
two-dimensional analytical methods, such as gas chromatography (GC)
or ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), for on-site screening of chemical
weapons (CW) agents or to fully equip a modern, mobile analytical laboratory
located in an airplane, which can be moved rapidly throughout the world
to each inspection site and provide high-quality analytical data on-site.
*Lecture presented at the IUPAC Workshop, Impact of
Scientific Developments on the Chemical Weapons Convention, Bergen,
Norway, 30 June-3 July 2002. Other presentations are published in this
issue, pp. 2229-2322.
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