title: Rapid monitoring of sulfur mustard degradation in solution by headspace solid-phase microextraction sampling and gas chromatography mass spectrometry.
abstract: A method using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis has been developed to gain insight into the degradation of the chemical warfare agent sulfur mustard in solution. Specifically, the described approach simplifies the sample preparation for GC/MS analysis to provide a rapid determination of changes in sulfur mustard abundance. These results were found to be consistent with those obtained using liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) GC/MS. The utility of the described approach was further demonstrated by the investigation of the degradation process in a complex matrix with surfactant added to assist solvation of sulfur mustard. A more rapid reduction in sulfur mustard abundance was observed using the HS-SPME approach with surfactant present and was similar to results from LLE experiments. Significantly, this study demonstrates that HS-SPME can simplify the sample preparation for GC/MS analysis to monitor changes in sulfur mustard abundance in solution more rapidly, and with less solvent and reagent usage than LLE.
authors.affiliation: Human Protection and Performance Division, Defence Science and Technology Organisation, 506 Lorimer St, Fishermans Bend, Victoria 3207, Australia.
authors.forename: Jo-Anne M
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Creek
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: McAnoy
authors.forename: Craig S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Brinkworth
mesh_terms: D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000032:analysis*; D052617:Solid Phase Microextraction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D009151:Mustard Gas