Retrospective identification of chemical warfare agents by high-temperature automatic thermal desorption–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

An automated thermal desorption (ATD)–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method was developed for the analysis of selected chemical warfare (CW) agents. Suitable methods were developed for analytes of high volatility to low volatility. The less volatile CW agents required the purchase and installation of a high-temperature valve upgrade kit allowing valve temperatures of up to 260°C to be reached. The limit of detection was 50 ng on the tube for most CW agents in full scan. Chloropicrin exhibited some temperature dependence, with detection limits improving as ATD temperatures were decreased below 150°C. A sample storage trial was undertaken to establish the most suitable storage environment for CW agents adsorbed onto Tenax TA. Temperature and time of storage were found to influence recovery of analytes with best recoveries being observed after 1 day storage in a freezer (−12°C). This method was evaluated during a trial of procedures for sampling and identification of chemical agents at Porton Down, UK. Sulfur mustard was detected downwind of a simulated exploded munition.