Analysis of chemical warfare agents III. Use of bis-nucleophiles in the trace level determination of phosgene and perfluoroisobutylene

The reactivity of phosgene and perfluoroisobutylene (PFIB) towards 1,2-bis-nucleophiles was exploited to allow determination of these gases in air samples. 2-Aminothiophenol (ATP), 3,4-dimercaptotoluene (DMT) and 2-hydroxymethylpiperidine (HMP) were evaluated as bis-nucleophiles capable of forming thermally-stable defivatives with phosgene and PFIB when loaded with triethylamine onto Tenax TA, Experimental design was used to optimise thermal desorption conditions. Detection limits in the low ng m(-3) range were observed for the five derivatives investigated. This work represents the most sensitive analytical method for trace level quantitation of phosgene and PFIB published to date. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.