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Science 11 May 1979:
Vol. 204. no. 4393, pp. 616 - 618
DOI: 10.1126/science.204.4393.616
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Articles

Chemical Warfare Agents: Verification of Compounds Containing the Phosphorus-Methyl Linkage in Waste Water

ALBERT VERWEIJ 1, HENK L. BOTER 1, and CARLA E. A. M. DEGENHARDT 1

1 Analytical Department, Prins Maurits Laboratorium, Instituut voor Chemische en Technologische Research, Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Rijswijk 2280 AA, Netherlands

The chemical analysis of the waste water from plants that manufacture chemicals is a nonintrusive method for confirming a suspected violation of the prohibition against the production of chemical warfare agents. The chemical structure of most nerve gases is related to that of methylphosphonic acid, whereas most organo-phosphorus pesticides have the phosphoric acid structure. On the basis of this characteristic difference, a procedure has been developed in which the presence of a nerve gas, its decomposition products, or its starting materials in waste water (Rhine River and Meuse River water) is reflected by the appearance of methylphosphonic acid as a breakdown product after hydrolysis. This acid is concentrated and converted into a volatile compound by methylation. After cleanup, the ester may be separated from related compounds by gas chromatography and is detected by means of a specific detector for phosphorus. The detection limit of nerve gases by this procedure is approximately 1 nanomole per liter of water. The scope and limitations of the method are discussed.

Submitted on January 25, 1978
Revised on October 30, 1978


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
A Novel Mechanism for Resistance to the Antimetabolite N-Phosphonoacetyl-L-Aspartate by Helicobacter pylori.
B. P. Burns, G. L. Mendz, and S. L. Hazell (1998)
J. Bacteriol. 180, 5574-5579
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