Analysis of chemical agents - activity report 2011-2013

Authors:

  • Karin Höjer Holmgren
  • Tomas Gustafsson
  • Daniel Jansson
  • Lars Juhlin
  • Magnus Ekblad
  • Sten-Åke Fredriksson
  • Sandra Lindberg
  • Calle Nilsson
  • Yvonne Nygren
  • Johanna Qvarnström
  • Sara Sandström
  • Raja Subramaniam
  • Håkan Wingfors
  • Crister Åstot
  • Linda Öberg
  • Jenny Rattfelt Nyholm
  • Anders Östin

Publish date: 2013-12-31

Report number: FOI-R--3817--SE

Pages: 22

Written in: Swedish

Keywords:

  • Chemical warfare
  • solid phase extraction
  • derivatisation
  • picolinyl
  • modification

Abstract

The project Analysis of Chemical Agents aims at developing the analytical chemistry tools for the management of hazardous substances in order to support the Armed Forces and other actors, that may be subjected to antagonistic use of chemicals, or act in areas where damage to the infrastructure may cause release of hazardous chemicals that could threaten the own safety. The work is conducted in order to build a line of knowledge and skills of analytical chemistry from the CBRN soldier, with advanced field analysis equipment, to FOI in its role as Reach Back laboratory and verification laboratory. The project was divided in three directions in order to cover both basic sciences and applied support to the Armed Forces. In the project section "Analysis of nerve agent markers", the focus has been to develop new methods for retrospective identification of hazardous materials, with nerve gases and their degradation products as a model system. The main success of the project is the development and publication of new methodology for advanced structural determination of nerve agent markers, where advanced hybrid mass spectrometer analysis can be substituted with a simple derivatisation and analysis on gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry. In another project direction, "Dumped chemical weapons in the Baltic sea", focused towards applied research in order to develop the ability to analyse chemical warfare agents, authentic samples from mustard gas bombs have been obtained through participation in an international EU-financed consortium for search and assessment of dumped chemical munitions in the Baltic Sea (CHEMSEA). Within this project, a large amount of analyses have been made, aimed at detecting and quantifying residues of chemical weapons leaking agents to the surroundings from the dumped munition. The main benefit of this project activity is the understanding of the complexity in tracking mustard gas-related substances in samples from the environment. In the project activity "Direct collaboration with the CBRN unit", aimed for direct collaboration with the CBRN unit's mobile C-laboratory, the intention is to develop analytical chemistry for field activities. The most interesting work in this project period is the review and reporting of the integration of old quick fix methods as a complement in the handling of the advanced field equipment the CBRN unit's reconnaissance groups during investigations of chemicals with unknown content.