GC-MS determination of 1-methyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole in soils affected by rocket fuel spills in Central Kazakhstan

The paper describes a method for the determination of 1-methyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole (MT) in soils contaminated due to space activities at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. MT is the main transformation product of the primary rocket fuel, 1,1-dimethylhydrazine (UDMH). The analytical procedure is based on gas chromatography in combination with mass-spectrometric detection. The detection limit of the method was determined to be 0.005 mg kg(-1). A series of authentic samples from the fall regions of the burned out first stages of UDMH fueled rockets has been analyzed disclosing MT concentrations in the range of 0.020 to 100 mg kg(-1).