Capillary ion electrophoresis screening of nerve agent degradation products in environmental samples using conductivity detection.
A method of detecting signature methylphosphonic acid (MPA) breakdown products of V and G nerve agents in environmental samples was developed using capillary ion electrophoresis with conductivity detection. The electrolyte (30 mM L-histidine, 30 mM 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid, 0.7 mM tetradecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide, and 0.03 weight% Triton X-100) allowed baseline separation of MPA, ethyl methylphosphonic acid (EMPA), isopropyl methylphosphonic acid (IMPA), and pinacolyl methylphosphonic acid (PMPA) in less than 10 min. Detector response was linear in the 6-60 micrograms/ml concentration range (correlation coefficient = 0.99) with a detection limit around 6 micrograms/ml. The application of this method for screening MPA, EMPA, IMPA, and PMPA in surface water, groundwater, and soil extracts is demonstrated.
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Research and Technology Directorate, US Army Edgewood Research, Development and Engineering Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5423, USA.
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D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary / Q000379:methods*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000032:analysis; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012999:Soman / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*
D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D063065:Organophosphonates; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D012987:Soil; D014867:Water; C108318:ethyl methylphosphonic acid; C048760:isopropyl methylphosphonic acid; C032627:methylphosphonic acid; C046573:pinacolyl methylphosphonic acid; D012999:Soman