RETENTION INDEX MONITORING OF COMPOUNDS OF CHEMICAL DEFENSE INTEREST USING THERMAL-DESORPTION GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY

Retention index monitoring using thermal desorption gas chromatographic analysis was developed as a method for the verification of compounds of chemical defence interest in environmental matrices. Gas chromatography retention indices were determined by loading solid adsorbent packed sampling tubes initially with the target compounds and subsequently with a series of n-alkane probes. The resulting chromatographic performance and gas chromatography retention indices were shown to be independent of the tube loading method. A database of gas chromatography retention indices for chemical warfare agents and simulants was compiled and, in conjunction with simultaneous flame ionization and flame photometric detection, applied to the identification of triethyl phosphate, tributyl phosphate and diethyl malonate in water and soil samples.