Route attribution of chemical warfare agents : Retrospective classification of unknown threat samples

Abstract

respectively. All participating laboratories analysed the same samples prepared at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI). The impurity profiles in nerve agent precursor metylphosphonyl dichloride samples were compared by a gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method using a retention index to facilitate data comparison. Retention indices of 16 CASs were calculated and compared, and this showed that the between-laboratory variation was low. This work is a first step towards a harmonised laboratory method for the profiling of CWA samples. The methods developed in this thesis will enhance accurate source attribution of CWAs and could potentially be used when alleged use of a CWA is being investigated.