Highly selective and sensitive chromogenic detection of nerve agents (sarin, tabun and VX): a multianalyte detection approach

Abstract

A novel strategy using ferrocenyl dye (1) was developed for highly selective chromogenic detection of all nerve agents. The protocol was first established with nerve agent mimics (DFP, DCNP, and malaoxon) and then implemented on real agents, i.e. sarin, tabun and VX. The developed chemosensor showed no interferences from the most probable interferents such as acetyl chloride, sulfur mustard, oxygen mustard and DMMP. Real-time visual detection with a lower limit of detection (below LD) made the present protocol highly appealing and versatile.

Decomposition of Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants Utilizing Pyrolyzed Cotton Balls as Wicks

“…Due to the limited volume of the syringe pump, this maximum burning rate was sustained only for an average of 90 ± 30 s. Across all burning pan sizes, over 50% of the total burned mass was consumed during this short period of maximum burning, although the maximum burning time accounted for only 20% of the total burning period. Based on previous research on the reactivity of simulants as compared to the reactivity of actual warfare agents, CWAs were found to be more reactive than their respective simulants, 45 and a similar trend is expected for the thermal decomposition of the agents. This suggests that H series agents will not only be able to sustain burning but also achieve the maximum burning rate within 2 min post ignition when a napalm-coated pyrolyzed cotton ball is used as the ignition source.…”

“… 25 , 50 It is also important to note that the use of simulants is common practice when studying chemical warfare agents, and multiple studies have shown that reactions with live agents generally proceed at a much higher rate than reactions with the simulants due to the presence of more reactive functional groups. 16 , 25 , 45 , 51 , 52 Therefore, we focused on the simulant 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) for the blister agent sulfur mustard (HD) and triethyl phosphate (TEP) for the nerve agent sarin (GB). The simulants used in this study were purchased from either Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO) or TCI America (Portland, OR).…”

A Self-Degradable Hydrogel Sensor for a Nerve Agent Tabun Surrogate Through a Self-Propagating Cascade

“…The Kumar group has reported the analysis of cyanide due to its nucleophilic ability after being released from an analogous mimic. [29][30][31] In our study, the two reactions that use initiator 4 were anticipated to impart selectivity to the sensing event. To test this, we conducted experiments on three nerve agent surrogates (Figures S10-S12).…”

Detection Papers with Chromogenic Chemosensors for Direct Visual Detection and Distinction of Liquid Chemical Warfare Agents

“…Chemical reactions are more selective, but the selection of chromogenic agents, suitable for practical applications, was very limited in the past. However, during the last two decades, a lot of original works were published, referring particularly to chromogenic chemosensors for the G type nerve agents, featuring a significant change of color as well as good selectivity and sensitivity; these chemosensors are based on hydroxyl-activation, N-activation, and contain metal ions (coordination compounds), or possibly form reactive polymers [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Many publications deal with new chemosensors for sulphur mustard [20][21][22][23][24].…”