Surface detection of chemical warfare agent simulants and degradation products

Chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulants as well as their degradation and hydrolysis products were detected from surfaces using thermal desorption ion mobility spectrometry (TD-IMS). CWA simulant materials that closely mimic the chemical structures of real CWA G/V-type nerve and S-type vesicant simulants were used in this study. Reduced mobility constants (K0) in air were reported for 20 compounds studied. Spectra for sample materials as low as 1 ng deposited on a paper filter were produced for most of the compounds. Detection limits as low as 15 pg of sample material with a sensitivity of 3.2 × 102 ampere per gram (A g−1) were reported. TD-IMS, which is normally used for the detection of explosives and drugs of abuse, demonstrated the capability of separating and detecting mixtures of CWA simulants, degradation and hydrolysis products from surface samples. TD-IMS demonstrated clear advantages of speed, high throughput and versatility over chromatographic methods of analysis for detecting CWA simulants, degradation and hydrolysis products. Successful development of the technique may lead to a practical and simple sensor for CWA and related compounds that could be installed and used at sensitive locations around the USA and throughout the world.