Capillary gas chromatography–atomic emission spectroscopy–mass spectrometry analysis of sulphur mustard and transformation products in a block recovered from the Baltic Sea

A block of yperite fished up from the Baltic Sea was analysed by gas chromatography coupled with atomic emission spectrometry and mass spectrometry. In the samples of the block about 50 compounds were detected, out of which 30 were identified. The identification of the compounds was performed by using the element chromatograms of the investigated compounds, and the data obtained by mass spectrometric detection. Thiodiglycol was not found among the compounds present in the investigated block. The calculations of the contents of sulphur mustard and some products in the block were performed by an external calibration method using bis(2-chloroethyl) sulphide as the standard. A satisfactory precision of elements determinations was obtained (RSD from 4.4 to 14.3%).